Moments of shock: 'I saw India’s Tejas fighter go down at Dubai Airshow'

Dubai: A pall of gloom settled over the final day of the Dubai Airshow 2025 after a fighter jet, believed to be India’s Tejas, crashed during an aerobatic display.

Since opening day, the aerial show had drawn huge crowds. By early afternoon, hundreds of visitors were streaming in for the last round of aerobatics. On the final day, I had also decided to step away from the media and exhibition centre to watch the show.

At around 1:30pm, as India’s Surya Kiran aerobatic team took to the skies, an announcement invited spectators to witness a glowing spectacle of growing India–UAE relations. Their coordinated formations in the colours of both nations drew loud applause, capped by a heart-shaped display that left visitors cheering.

Minutes later, the thunderous roar of an F-35 swept overhead. Like many in the crowd, I found myself holding my phone up constantly, shifting between shaded and open areas near the Emirates flight display to capture every moment.

Just after 2:10pm, a new fighter jet appeared. Some journalists covering the aviation sector quickly identified it as India’s Tejas.

About three minutes into its routine, the aircraft climbed steeply for a manoeuvre, and then something went wrong. It seemed to lose power mid-ascent before plunging sharply toward the open ground in front of spectators.

A deafening impact followed.

For a moment, I was frozen in place, phone still recording, heart racing uncontrollably. Around me, people screamed and looked at one another in disbelief.

“Oh my God… I hope the pilot is fine,” a Filipina visitor cried beside me.

A defence expert standing close by shook his head, saying the chances of survival appeared slim.

An official photographer covering the event told me the aircraft was indeed the Tejas, which had been scheduled at No.3 for an afternoon demonstration. I felt gutted.

Within a minute, emergency teams, including Civil Defence, police, and paramedics, rushed toward the crash site. A helicopter soon landed as first responders cordoned off the area. The show was halted, and visitors were asked to move back toward the exhibition halls.

What had moments earlier been a festive final day of the airshow had abruptly turned sombre, leaving spectators stunned as rescue efforts unfolded.

By 2:40pm, the helicopter lifted off from the crash site. Visitors left quietly many with a prayer.