Tejas fighter jet crashes at Dubai Air Show: IAF pilot dies, probe ordered | What we know so far

The Tejas jet crashed around 2.10 pm local time in Dubai on Friday.

In an unfortunate incident, a Tejas fighter jet of the Indian Air Force crashed on Friday during a flying demonstration at the Dubai Air Show. The IAF, in a statement, confirmed the death of pilot in the crash. The deceased pilot has been identified as Wing Commander Namansh Syal of of Himachal Pradesh's Kangra district

As per reports, the HAL-made plane came crashing down around 2:10 pm local time while performing an aerial display before a large crowd near the Al Maktoum International Airport.

"An IAF Tejas aircraft met with an accident during an aerial display at the Dubai Air Show today. The pilot sustained fatal injuries in the accident. Indian Air Force deeply regrets the loss of life and stands firmly with the bereaved family in this time of grief. A court of inquiry is being constituted to ascertain the cause of the accident," the IAF said in an official statement.

A video of the incident, now viral on social media, shows the aircraft wobbling mid-air, flipping sharply, and then losing control before bursting into flames on the ground.

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

Here is what we know so far:

• The incident marks the second crash involving Tejas aircraft of the IAF in less than two years.
• According to sources quoted by NDTV, the pilot was unable to regain control after a negative G-force manoeuvre. Negative G-force occurs when the body is pushed in the opposite direction of gravity, which can make it difficult to control the aircraft.
• The UAE government said firefighting and emergency teams responded rapidly to the incident and are “currently managing the situation on-site”.
• Gulf News reported that spectators at the airshow saw the crash from viewing enclosures near the runway. Khaleej Times reported that the fighter jet crashed into the ground soon after take-off. Photos and videos shared online show plumes of black smoke billowing into the air from the aircraft on the ground.

A key safety feature of the jet is its Martin-Baker zero-zero ejection seat, which allows the pilot to escape safely even at zero altitude and zero speed, such as during take-off or landing. The system blows off the canopy, propels the pilot away from the aircraft and deploys a parachute for a safe descent.

The Indian Air Force sees the Tejas fighter jet as crucial to replacing its shrinking number of combat squadrons. The recent crash at the Dubai Airshow is only the second such incident since the aircraft entered service in the mid-2010s. The previous crash took place near Jaisalmer in March last year, when the pilot ejected safely.

In September, the Defence Ministry signed a contract with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited to buy 97 Tejas jets, with deliveries set to begin in 2027. This follows an earlier 2021 deal for 83 aircraft, which has faced delays due to a shortage of engines that need to be imported from the United States.