- An Indian Air Force HAL Tejas LCA MK-1A fighter-jet crashed during the final flying display of the Dubai Airshow 2025, shortly before the closing ceremony.
- The pilot was fatally injured, prompting the IAF to issue an official statement expressing regret and confirming that a court of inquiry will investigate the accident.
- All flying displays were suspended, emergency services responded at once, and no additional aircraft or spectator casualties were reported.
A fighter-jet belonging to the Indian Air Force (IAF), a LCA MK-1A variant of the HAL Tejas, crashed on Friday during the final flying display of the Dubai Airshow 2025. The incident occurred over the show airspace shortly before the closing ceremony. The pilot-in-command has been officially declared dead by the IAF.
VIDEO | Dubai: A Tejas fighter jet taking part in the Dubai Air Show nosedived during an aerial display and crashed this afternoon. The HAL-manufactured aircraft went down around 02:10 pm local time while performing manoeuvres in front of a large audience. An official statement… pic.twitter.com/9MfLJgYeen
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) November 21, 2025
The IAF’s official social-media account confirmed the event:
“Indian Air Force regrets to inform that a Tejas aircraft met with an accident during the flying display at Dubai Airshow. Further details will follow.”
An IAF Tejas aircraft met with an accident during an aerial display at Dubai Air Show, today. The pilot sustained fatal injuries in the accident.
IAF deeply regrets the loss of life and stands firmly with the bereaved family in this time of grief.
— Indian Air Force
The HAL Tejas is India’s light combat aircraft designed for air-defence, ground-attack and reconnaissance roles, and has featured in multiple international display programmes.
Following the incident, all flying displays at the airshow were halted immediately, and emergency services were deployed to the crash site. No other aircraft were reported involved, and no casualties among spectators have been disclosed.
