An Indian Air Force’s Tejas fighter jet taking part in a demonstration at the Dubai Air Show crashed on Friday afternoon. The HAL made plane went down around 2:10 pm local time while performing an aerial display before a large crowd.
The Indian Air Force acknowledged the crash and said that further details were awaited. In a statement, it said: “The Indian A Tejas of IAF has crashes in Dubai Air Show-25. Further details are being ascertained at the moment. Will give further details in some time.”
Thick black smoke was seen rising from the crash site near the airport, prompting panic among onlookers, including families with children who had gathered to watch the show. It remains unclear whether the pilot managed to eject before impact.
Authorities have yet to release further details as emergency teams rushed to the scene.
What is Tejas?
Tejas is a 4.5-generation fighter aircraft designed to handle offensive air support, close combat and ground attack missions. Built for versatility, it is also engineered to perform ground and maritime operations, making it one of India’s most adaptable indigenous platforms. The Tejas family includes single-seat fighter variants for both the Air Force and Navy, as well as twin-seat trainer versions for each service.
As per HAL website, it is the most advanced iteration, the LCA Mk1A, incorporates significant upgrades to enhance combat capability and survivability. It features an AESA radar, an advanced electronic warfare suite with radar warning and self-protection jamming, a digital map generator, smart multifunction displays, a combined interrogator and transponder system, and a modern radio altimeter, along with several other sophisticated systems that strengthen its operational performance.
