Govt debunks viral claims of Tejas Mk1 ‘oil leak’ at Dubai Airshow

Tejas, equipped with its smoke winders, performed its flying display at the Dubai Air Show and soared over Al Maktoum Airport, the venue of the event.

The government on Thursday dismissed viral social media posts alleging that India’s LCA Tejas Mk1 fighter aircraft experienced an oil leak during the Dubai Airshow 2025, stating that the claims are entirely false.

According to the Press Information Bureau’s fact-check unit, there was no oil leakage from the fighter jet at any point. Officials clarified that the fluid seen in circulating videos was actually part of a routine and intentional draining process carried out before flights. This drainage removes condensed water generated within the aircraft’s cooling system, including components such as the Environmental Control System and the On-Board Oxygen Generating System.

The PIB said this process is a standard pre-flight procedure, especially in high-humidity locations like Dubai, where condensation naturally builds up in aircraft systems. The unit emphasised that Tejas did not suffer any technical malfunction and that the videos were being misinterpreted — or intentionally misrepresented — to push a misleading narrative.

Several propaganda accounts are circulating videos claiming that at the #DubaiAirshow 2025, the Indian LCA #Tejas Mk1 suffered an oil leakage.#PIBFactCheck

These claims are #Fake.

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The videos show routine, intentional draining of condensed water from the aircraft's… pic.twitter.com/k4oQThqtA3

— PIB Fact Check (@PIBFactCheck) November 20, 2025

The government further stated that certain accounts online are deliberately spreading false claims to undermine the fighter jet’s proven reliability and performance. It urged citizens to verify information before sharing it, cautioning that such misinformation attempts aim to create unwarranted doubt about India’s defence capabilities.

Earlier Vice Chief of Air Staff (VCAS) Air Marshal Narmdeshwar Tiwari on Monday said the Indian Air Force (IAF) expects strong interest from foreign buyers in the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas at the Dubai Air Show 2025.

The event is taking place in Dubai's Al Maktoum airport from November 17 to 21 and India has sent both the Tejas and Surya Kiran Aerobatic Team (SKAT) at the request of UAE authorities.

Speaking at the India Pavilion, he said India's participation is about the growing defence cooperation between the two countries at multiple levels.

Air Marshal Tiwari said, "We sent the Tejas as well as the Surya Kiran Aerobatics Team on the request of the UAE authorities. We have a very good cooperation with them, both at the strategic level as well as the service level." He also noted that the Tejas had taken part in the Dubai Air Show earlier and drew attention globally during its previous displays.

"Tejas has come here and participated before. The interest shown was tremendous. We are expecting that the display this year also will cater to great expectations, not only for the local population but also for the visitors, to at least showcase the capabilities of the aircraft," he said.

India is buying close to 200 Tejas aircraft, and the Vice Chief said this scale of induction also sends a strong message to international partners.

"Just as we are buying almost 200 of these platforms, I am sure it will generate great interest here," he added. Tejas, equipped with its smoke winders, performed its flying display at the Dubai Air Show and soared over Al Maktoum Airport, the venue of the event.

*With Agency Inputs