Tejas plane crashes at Dubai Airshow, pilot confirmed dead

A fighter jet crashed during the afternoon demonstration on the final day of the Dubai Airshow, sending shockwaves through the crowd. According to the flight schedule, the aircraft involved is believed to be an Indian Tejas jet.

Afternoon demonstrations are usually a crowd favourite, drawing large numbers of visitors to the outdoor area where aircraft are on display. Following a tragic incident, the show has been temporarily suspended, and attendees have been directed to return to the main exhibition area.

Rescue operations were carried out within minutes following the incident. Authorities acted swiftly to ensure the safety of visitors.

Authorities have not yet released any information about the pilot’s condition.

Spectators at the air show saw the crash from viewing enclosures near the runway. Videos show the Tejas performing its demonstration routine before suddenly losing altitude and descending rapidly. Moments later, a column of black smoke rose, drawing gasps and causing visitors to move away quickly.

The HAL Tejas light combat aircraft, which crashed at the Dubai Airshow, represents India’s push for a home-grown fighter capability under the "Make in India" strategy. This agile, compact, single-engine multirole jet—developed by HAL and ADA—is designed for air defense and ground-attack missions.

• Design & Role: Single-engine, multirole jet for air and ground missions; agile delta-wing design.

• Upgrades (Mk 1A): AESA radar, electronic warfare suite, BVR missiles, air-to-air refuelling, higher indigenous content.

• Production & Orders: 83 jets ordered; 97 more with GE engines (2027–2032); third line in Nashik boosts output to ~24 jets/year.

• Strategic Importance: Replaces MiG-21/27, reduces imports, provides scalable, modern domestic platform.

• Key Advantage: Lightweight, manoeuvrable, suited to varied environments with smaller logistical footprint. Read more

Rescue chopper departs 25 minutes after the tragic crash. Further aerial displays have reportedly been called off. By 3 pm, visitors are leaving in large numbers.

Dubai Media Office confirms pilot dead after Tejas fighter jet crash at Dubai Airshow. The post states that a Tejas fighter jet from India crashed during today’s Dubai Airshow display, killing the pilot. Emergency and firefighting teams responded immediately and are managing the situation on-site.

Shahad Alnaqbi at the airshow: “We were watching the display when suddenly we saw smoke and an explosion. People started running and screaming, and then the ambulance arrived quickly.”

The UAE Ministry of Defence posted on social media that a Tejas fighter aircraft from India, taking part in today’s flying display at the Dubai Airshow, has crashed, killing the pilot. Emergency and firefighting teams responded immediately and are managing the situation on-site.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) has expressed deep grief following the death of a pilot in a Tejas fighter jet crash during an aerial display at the Dubai Airshow 2025. In a statement, the IAF said it "deeply regrets the loss of life and stands firmly with the bereaved family in this time of grief." A court of inquiry has been ordered to determine the cause of the accident.

"It was a wonderful show until this tragic accident occurred, shocking all of us watching the airshow. From the way the flight turned before it went down, I strongly feel the pilot tried to save the spectators. It’s so unfortunate that he couldn’t escape. We are deeply saddened that someone died before our eyes, and the pain is even greater knowing it was an Indian fighter jet pilot,” said Indian expat Shajudheen Jabbar, who witnessed the accident along with his wife Shiny and daughter Ashley.

Visitors return as the aerial show resumes after a brief one-hour halt.

“It was a tragic and unexpected incident. This was my first Airshow. I had just entered the aerial show area with my brother, Muhammad Usman, when I suddenly saw a jet go down. It is unfortunate to learn that it was our Tejas. We have read that the pilot did not survive. Our heartfelt condolences,” said Hafiz Faisal Madni, a Dubai resident for eight years.

As visitors streamed into the Dubai Airshow, a chilling moment unfolded when a jet suddenly plunged from the sky.

“I was walking into the show when I saw the jet go down. It was a shocking incident. It’s hard to believe something like this could happen. It felt as if there had been a power failure for a jet to plunge like that,” recalled Najeeb Peruli, a long-time Dubai resident.

Winston Lobo, a resident of Emaar South, said the impact of the crash was felt in the nearby community.

“It happened very close to my house. I heard a loud bang…I honestly thought piles of pipes had tumbled down. The jet went down in a rubble area very close to our community,” said Lobo, an advertising and PR professional who has lived in the UAE for 18 years.

“It’s sad that we lost our fighter jet and the pilot. May his soul rest in peace,” added the Indian expat.

The much-anticipated aerial demonstration at the Dubai Airshow concluded with a breathtaking aerobatic display by the UAE’s Al Fursan team, after most of the scheduled aircraft stayed grounded following the tragic crash of an Indian Tejas fighter jet.

At 2:13pm, the lightweight, single-engine Tejas failed to gain altitude and crashed within seconds, killing the pilot and sending shockwaves through the airshow. Organisers immediately declared a temporary halt as emergency and rescue operations were mobilised.

After nearly an hour-long pause, the aerial display resumed at 3:40 pm with an aerobatic team, reportedly the Russian Knights, taking to the skies.

The show culminated in a spectacular performance by Al Fursan, whose F-16s carved smoke trails in the colours of the UAE flag while executing tight formations and precision aerobatics.

The original schedule had included an impressive lineup of advanced military and aerobatic aircraft, including the Dassault Rafale, B-52 Stratofortress, F-16 (UAE and US), Extra 330 aerobatic plane, Mirage 2000-9, Joby Aviation eVTOL and Sukhoi Su-57 among others.

It remains unclear why these aircraft did not perform, though safety protocols following the Tejas crash likely played a role.

At 5:30 pm, the curtain fell on another edition of the Dubai Airshow, its final day overshadowed by the tragic accident.