An Indian Air Force (IAF) Tejas light combat aircraft crashed and caught fire during a flight demonstration at the Dubai Air Show today. The incident occurred at 2:10 PM Dubai time (3:40 PM IST) on the final day of the international aviation exhibition.
The Ministry of Defense confirmed the crash, stating the aircraft lost control while performing a maneuver. A massive column of black smoke was seen over the airport following the impact. The status of the pilot and whether they successfully ejected is currently unknown.
The IAF has immediately ordered a Court of Inquiry to determine the cause of the accident. This marks the second crash involving a Tejas jet; the previous incident was due to engine failure during a combat exercise in Pokhran, Rajasthan, in 2024.