- Indian Tejas fighter jet crashes during Dubai Airshow, killing the pilot.
- Social media videos show the aircraft falling and erupting in smoke.
- IAF vows to investigate; expresses deep regret for the loss.
- Crash marks the second Tejas accident in less than two years.
A demonstration flight at the Dubai Airshow ended in tragedy on Friday when an Indian Tejas fighter jet crashed, killing its pilot, according to a statement released by the Indian Air Force (IAF).
The IAF confirmed the incident, saying, “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.”
\In the same statement, the force expressed its condolences, noting it “deeply” regrets the loss and “stands firmly with the bereaved family in this time of grief.”
The cause of the crash has not yet been determined, with the IAF saying it will “ascertain the cause of the accident.”
Footage uploaded to social media captured the moment the single-seat aircraft plunged from the sky, followed by a large plume of smoke rising over the airshow grounds. NDTV reported that the jet went down at approximately 2:10 PM, with thick smoke quickly covering the area around Al Maktoum International Airport.
The Tejas, manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, has now been involved in two crashes in under two years. The previous incident occurred in March last year in Rajasthan, marking what Indian media noted as “the first such accident in the aircraft’s 23-year history since its maiden test flight in 2001,” during which the pilot managed to eject safely.
