The final day of the Dubai Airshow was marred by tragedy on Friday, November 21, when a HAL Tejas fighter jet crashed during a demonstration flight, resulting in the fatal injury of the pilot.
The accident occurred around 2 PM local time at Al Maktoum International Airport at Dubai World Central, United Arab Emirates, as the Tejas light combat aircraft was performing an aerial display for spectators.
Eyewitness accounts and circulating footage captured the moment of the fighter jet’s rapid descent and eventual crash, after which the site was engulfed in flames and thick smoke.
According to Jignesh Variya, a 46-year-old attendee interviewed by Reuters, the accident happened quickly. Variya reported that the fighter jet had only been airborne for approximately eight to nine minutes and had completed two or three passes before it suddenly entered a catastrophic nose-dive.
“Everybody in the crowd stood up there on their feet, and then maybe in around 30 seconds, the emergency vehicles rushed over to the location at the crash site,” he said.
The Indian Air Force (IAF) confirmed on social media that the pilot sustained ‘atal injuries’ and said it was launching an inquiry to determine what caused the crash.
“IAF deeply regrets the loss of life and stands firmly with the bereaved family in this time of grief,” the statement added.
The Tejas jet, developed by the state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), is central to India’s strategy for updating its air force.
This marks the second recorded crash incident of the HAL Tejas fighter jet, following the first one that occurred during an exercise in India in 2024.
The Dubai Airshow, which started on Monday, November 17, was one of the largest aviation events in the Middle East.