An Indian Air Force HAL Tejas light combat aircraft crashed during a flying display at the Dubai Airshow 2025 on November 21, prompting an emergency response and temporarily halting the afternoon program.
The single-engine fighter went down at around 14:10 local time while performing an aerobatic routine.
Video from the venue showed the aircraft losing altitude before impact, followed by a column of black smoke rising near the showgrounds at Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC). Authorities evacuated sections of the crowd as first responders moved to the crash site.
Local officials have not yet confirmed the pilot’s status, and it remains unclear whether an ejection occurred. Neither the Indian Air Force nor Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) had issued immediate details regarding the accident at the time of writing.
All flying displays were suspended following the crash, with organizers halting the afternoon program as emergency crews secured the area.
India’s flagship light fighter
The Tejas is India’s flagship domestically developed fighter program, designed by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) and produced by HAL. The IAF deployed the aircraft to the Dubai Airshow as part of a broader push to showcase India’s indigenous combat-air capabilities and expand export outreach in the Gulf and Southeast Asia.
