Indian fighter jet crashes during Dubai Air Show demo flight, killing pilot
The incident comes as the IAF prepares to induct an advanced variant of the aircraft, the LCA Mk-1A
An Indian Air Force pilot was killed on Friday (21 November) after the Tejas light combat aircraft (LCA Mk-1) he was flying crashed during a demonstration at the Dubai Air Show, the IAF said.
"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. IAF 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 a statement.
Visuals circulating on social media showed the indigenous fighter jet hitting the ground and erupting into a fireball.
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The incident comes as the IAF prepares to induct an advanced variant of the aircraft, the LCA Mk-1A. This is only the second recorded crash of a Tejas aircraft.
Earlier, a single-engine Tejas fighter jet crashed near Jaisalmer in Rajasthan on 12 March 2024, minutes after participating in a tri-services exercise showcasing India's progress towards self-reliance in the defence manufacturing sector. The pilot ejected safely in that incident.
The LCA Mk-1 had taken part in the Bharat Shakti tri-services exercise at the Pokhran firing range near Jaisalmer, along with another Tejas aircraft, before it went down.
The IAF inducted its first Tejas aircraft in July 2016 and currently operates two Mk-1 squadrons, each comprising 16 to 18 aircraft. Both aircraft involved in the crashes belonged to the Mk-1 fleet inducted under the Initial Operational Clearance (IOC) and the more advanced Final Operational Clearance (FOC) configurations — the first variants of the LCA.
The biennial Dubai Air Show is currently underway, taking place in the 40th anniversary year of host carrier Emirates. The show has become a major platform for the arms industry and aerospace companies, with significant aircraft orders placed by both Emirates and its low-cost sister airline FlyDubai.
Industry professionals from 150 countries had arrived in Dubai for the event, and leading aerospace firms such as Bombardier, Dassault Aviation, Embraer, Thales, Airbus, Lockheed Martin, and Calidus participated.
The Dubai Air Show began on 17 November and was scheduled to conclude on Friday, 21 November — the day the Tejas jet crashed.
