An Indian Air Force (IAF) Tejas fighter jet crashed during a flying display at the Dubai Air Show today, tragically resulting in the death of the pilot. A widely-shared video showed the jet nosediving before hitting the ground, followed by plumes of smoke and fire.
Expert Reaction on Possible Causes
Retired IAF officer and defence analyst Wing Commander Praful Bakshi expressed his condolences, stating, “We have received the unfortunate news of the pilot's fatality.”
Speaking about potential reasons behind such accidents, he said, “Fighter flying accidents can happen due to various reasons. It is not as simple and safe as it is shown in textbooks. There can be risks and rate of accidents.”
He explained that mid-air failures can result from multiple factors. “Engines can fail, control jamming or anything could be there. There is a lot of pressure on heart or on aircraft and people with such problems don't sit in cockpits,” Bakshi noted.
Commenting on the IAF Tejas fighter jet crash at the Dubai Air Show, Defence Expert Praful Bakshi said further "This is a deeply unfortunate incident in which we have lost a courageous pilot. This marks the second such accident, and a thorough investigation will be carried out to determine the cause."
On the IAF Tejas fighter jet crash at the Dubai Air Show, Air Marshal Sanjeev Kapoor (Retd) remarked,
"The unfortunate Tejas crash earlier today in Dubai has sent shockwaves through the system. The cause could be mechanical, possibly a malfunction in the fly-by-wire system or a control surface issue. The court of inquiry will also examine the possibility of sabotage. The FDR and CVR will be retrieved for analysis. At this stage, it is wrong to speculate about what went wrong. Losing a fellow officer is deeply saddening..."
Regarding the IAF Tejas fighter jet crash at the Dubai Air Show, Major General Vikrant Naik (Retd) stated:
"I was present at the Dubai Air Show today when this tragic incident occurred. I pay my respects to our fallen brother-in-arms, the pilot. As a proud Indian, I believe this is only a temporary setback for the Tejas mission. Very soon, we will continue progressing, as we have always done, towards achieving our goal of Atmanirbharta."
IAF Statement
The Indian Air Force confirmed the incident in a statement, “An IAF Tejas aircraft met with an accident during an aerial display at Dubai Air Show today. The pilot sustained fatal injuries in the accident. IAF deeply regrets the loss of life and stands firmly with the bereaved family in this time of grief. A court of inquiry is being constituted to ascertain the cause of the accident.”
Incident and Social Media Footage
Videos circulating online showed the indigenous fighter jet hitting the ground and erupting into flames, capturing the severity of the crash. The accident occurs as the IAF prepares to induct an advanced variant of the aircraft, the LCA Mk-1A, into service.