AeroMorning November 21, 2025 

On November 21, 2025, during a flying demonstration at the Dubai Airshow, an Indian HAL Tejas light combat aircraft crashed in front of spectators, killing the pilot.

Eyewitnesses report that the Tejas was performing a steep climb, apparently executing a negative-G turn, when it suddenly lost altitude and entered a rapid dive. Video from the site shows the aircraft plummeting toward an open area near the runway, followed by a huge fireball and thick black smoke.

Emergency response teams — including civil defence, police, paramedics, and even a helicopter — rushed to the scene. The air show was temporarily halted, and spectators were escorted back to safer areas.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) confirmed that the pilot sustained fatal injuries.They announced that a court of inquiry will be formed to investigate the cause of the crash. 

This is the second serious accident involving the Tejas aircraft in a short period — the first crash happened in 2024 in India. The Tejas is a key symbol of India’s drive to modernize its air force with domestically developed platforms.