An Indian HAL Tejas fighter aircraft crashed, resulting in the death of the pilot at the Dubai Airshow on Friday, the Media Office of the Dubai Government stated. 

Firefighting and emergency teams responded to the incident, witnessed by crowds of enthusiasts, experts, and officials. 

The horrific accident occurred while the Tejas performed at least its fifth flight in five consecutive days as part of the airshow. 

A deeply painful moment for Indian aviation. Watching Tejas crash with no sign of ejection is something that leaves you shaken. Our pilots carry the nation’s pride every time they fly, and seeing this feels like a punch to the heart. Still waiting for clarity, but the visuals… pic.twitter.com/BDlJhnC4k4

— Shashank Singh (@shashank_seo) November 21, 2025

The HAL Tejas Mk-1A is an indigenous, lightweight, single-engine, 4.5-generation multi-role combat aircraft developed for the Indian Air Force (IAF) and Indian Navy. It is noted for being the smallest and lightest supersonic fighter in its class globally and is a cornerstone of India's drive for self-reliance in defense technology. Today's crash immediately sparked reactions from critics of India's Tejas program as it added another crash to the Tejas's operational history.

India recorded its first-ever loss of a Tejas fighter on March 12, 2024, when a fully operational Tejas Mark 1 from the Indian Air Force’s No. 18 Squadron (Flying Bullets) crashed near Jaisalmer in Rajasthan shortly after participating in a tri-service exercise. The pilot ejected safely, and no injuries were reported on the ground.

The incident marked the first crash in the Tejas program’s nearly eight-year operational history, and the first since the aircraft’s maiden flight 23 years earlier, making it a significant setback for India’s indigenous fighter project. A subsequent investigation determined that an oil-pump malfunction caused the engine to seize, ultimately forcing the aircraft down.

Read more: India inks $7 billion deal for Tejas fighter jets

India denies 'oil leak' footage

Social media videos circulating at the Dubai Air Show alleged an oil leak from the jet. However, these claims were officially dismissed as false by the Indian government and the Press Information Bureau (PIB) fact-check unit. 

Today's the First day of Dubai Airshow 2025 but we can already see the Mighty Tejas Leaking Oil at Tarmac.

Imagine Spending Billions in 35+ years of Research and Developed but still HAL can't Fix a small issue causing International Embarrassment for IAF and India pic.twitter.com/hfPwfs2NUj

— Armed Forces Update (@ArmedUpdat1947) November 17, 2025

Officials clarified that the fluid seen dripping in the videos was not an oil leak but a normal and intentional pre-flight procedure to drain condensed water from the aircraft's cooling systems, such as the Environmental Control System. This is a standard practice, especially in locations with high humidity like Dubai, where condensation naturally accumulates. 

It is unclear if the specific aircraft in those videos was the same one that later crashed during the performance on November 21, 2025. The cause of the crash is currently under investigation by Indian authorities. 

Why did the Tejas crash?

Footage circulating on social media shows the aircraft performing a low-altitude maneuver before appearing to lose control and nosediving. Aviation experts and social media users have proposed various theories based on the available footage.

Some observers have pointed to possible pilot error or miscalculation, suggesting the maneuver may have been misjudged or executed at too low an altitude, resulting in a sudden loss of lift. Others have speculated that the pilot could have suffered a G-force–induced loss of consciousness during the high-G turn. And while the aircraft’s safety record remains strong, investigators have not ruled out the possibility of a technical or systems failure. A definitive conclusion will depend on the retrieval and analysis of the flight data recorders.

Better video showing the full turn sequence that caused the Indian Air Force HAL Tejas to crash today at the Dubai Air Show 2025. Seems like the pilot did not correctly calculate altitude or orientation while performing the last turn, resulting in a pull-up too close to ground: pic.twitter.com/oo2SXR01YM

— The STRATCOM Bureau (@OSPSF) November 21, 2025

Read more: India, Russia discuss expedited S-400 deliveries, Su-30 MKI upgrades