By Sangeeta Saxena & Surabhi Rao
Dubai. 21 November 2025. Reporting our saddest story from Dubai Airshow. Tejas is a part of the Tragedy in Dubai Sky when it crashed during the flying display. Dark smoke bellowing is visible. The crash occurred around 2:10 pm local time at the Al Maktoum International Airport, where the aircraft was performing a high-speed manoeuvre as part of India’s demonstration line-up for the global audience. The jet suddenly lost altitude before hitting the ground, followed by a plume of black smoke rising from the crash site as airshow organisers immediately halted flying displays.
Minutes after the incident, rescue teams rushed to the scene and emergency protocols were activated, redirecting spectators away from the flight viewing zone. Initial confusion prevailed over whether the pilot had managed to eject, the Indian Air Force has issued an official confirmation that the pilot had succumbed to fatal injuries in the crash. The news has cast a pall of grief over the international defence gathering, where India’s participation was being viewed as a significant showcase of indigenous capability and export potential.
The Tejas fighter had been positioned as a symbol of India’s growing aerospace independence and cutting-edge design under the “Make in India” programme. Built by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited in collaboration with the Aeronautical Development Agency, the aircraft’s deployment to Dubai was both a strategic and commercial step, with several global delegations expressing interest in evaluation. The crash, however, brings immediate scrutiny to demonstration protocols, flight safety envelopes and aircraft systems at a crucial stage when India is working to push the platform for export deals.
The IAF has confirmed that a court of inquiry will investigate the cause of the crash, including the flight profile, aircraft configuration, ejection system performance and environmental conditions at the time of the manoeuvre. HAL and the Ministry of Defence are also expected to reassess overseas demonstration risk guidelines. While the loss of the aircraft is a setback, the tragedy of the pilot’s death remains the deepest blow. ADU shares the grief of both Indian Air Force and the bereaved family. We reassure all readers, this does not raise a question on either the fighter or the pilot. We have been reporting live from the show for the last five days and it has been the best in the sky.
