An Indian Air Force pilot lost his life on Friday when a Tejas light combat aircraft crashed during a display at the Dubai Air Show, according to an official statement from the IAF.
The Air Force said the aircraft went down while performing an aerial manoeuvre, resulting in fatal injuries to the pilot. The statement added that the force stands with the pilot’s family in this moment of immense loss and that an inquiry has been ordered to determine what led to the accident.
Footage circulating online captured the indigenous fighter striking the ground before bursting into flames, drawing shock from attendees and aviation professionals present at the event.
The crash occurred at a time when the Air Force is gearing up to introduce a more advanced version of the jet, known as the LCA Mk-1A. This accident marks only the second time a Tejas aircraft has ever been lost.
The previous mishap took place on March 12, 2024, near Jaisalmer in Rajasthan, when a Tejas fighter went down shortly after taking part in a tri-services exercise that showcased India’s progress in defence manufacturing. In that instance, the pilot managed to eject safely.
The IAF began inducting the Tejas in July 2016 and currently fields two Mk-1 squadrons. Both aircraft involved in the two crashes belonged to the early variants of the Tejas series, which include the initial operational clearance and the later final operational clearance configurations.
The Dubai Air Show, held every two years, is taking place during the fortieth anniversary celebrations of Emirates, the host airline. The event has become a major global stage for aviation and defence industries and has seen sizeable aircraft orders from carriers such as Emirates and FlyDubai.
Representatives from about one hundred and fifty countries gathered for the exhibition, with many major aerospace companies participating, including Bombardier, Dassault Aviation, Embraer, Thales, Airbus, Lockheed Martin, and Calidus.
The event opened on November 17 and was scheduled to conclude on November 21, the same day the Tejas fighter went down.
