Fighter jet crashes at Dubai Air Show, pilot dead

An Indian combatant pitchy crashed Friday astatine the Dubai Air Show successful the United Arab Emirates, sidesplitting the aviator onboard, officials said. 

Videos circulating connected societal media showed the IAF Tejas craft bursting into flames arsenic it struck the ground, drafting gasps from crowds gathered astatine the event. 

"The aviator sustained fatal injuries in the accident," the Indian Air Force wrote connected X, noting that an probe is underway to find the origin of the crash. "IAF deeply regrets the nonaccomplishment of beingness and stands firmly with the bereaved household successful this clip of grief." 

"A Tejas fighter aircraft from India participating in today’s flying show astatine the Dubai Airshow has crashed, resulting successful the tragic decease of the pilot," added the Dubai Media Office. "Firefighting and exigency teams responded rapidly to the incidental and are presently managing the concern on-site."

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Emergency services be the country aft an Indian Tejas combatant pitchy crashed during a objection astatine the Dubai Air Show, astatine Al Maktoum International Airport successful Dubai, United Arab Emirates, connected Friday, Nov. 21, 2025.  (Dubai Media Office via AP)

An SUV bearing diplomatic plates flying the Indian emblem was seen astatine the clang site, on with constabulary and exigency personnel. 

The aerial amusement aboriginal resumed formation demonstrations, with the Russian Knights aerobatics squad flying overhead arsenic exigency crews inactive worked the clang site, the Associated Press reported. 

Tejas is India’s indigenous fighter aircraft, built by state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Limited.

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Smoke billows pursuing a clang of an Indian Tejas combatant jet, aft it mislaid altitude and crashed during an aerial show astatine the Dubai Air Show successful this screengrab obtained from an eyewitness video.  (Jignesh Variya/Reuters)

The lightweight, single-engine pitchy is expected to bolster India’s depleted combatant fleet arsenic China expands its subject beingness successful South Asia, including by strengthening defence ties with India’s rival Pakistan, according to the AP. 

In September, India’s Defense Ministry signed a declaration with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, oregon HAL, to procure 97 Tejas jets for the aerial force. Deliveries are expected to statesman successful 2027.

The Indian combatant pitchy is seen flying during a objection moments earlier crashing astatine the Dubai Air Show connected Friday, Nov. 21, 2025.  (Jon Gambrell/AP)

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A Tejas combatant pitchy crashed successful the occidental Indian authorities of Rajasthan past year, but the aviator ejected safely successful that incident. 

The Associated Press contributed to this report.