Indian Air Force HAL Tejas fighter jet crashed under unknown circumstances at Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC/OMDW), Jebel Ali, during the Dubai Air Show. The pilot perished, and the aircraft was destroyed. The aircraft of IAF 18 Sqn. were LA5025 (static, c/n SP-29) and LA2028 (demo’s, c/n SP-32)
The accident occurred around 2:10 p.m. local time at Al Maktoum International Airport, where the air show was being held.
Video footage from the site shows the jet suddenly losing altitude and diving toward the ground, before crashing in a fireball. Thick black smoke rose from the wreckage, triggering a rapid response from emergency and firefighting teams.
The IAF confirmed in its statement that the pilot “sustained fatal injuries” and expressed deep regret, adding that a court of inquiry is being constituted to investigate the cause of the crash.
A formal investigation will involve the Indian Air Force, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), and possibly UAE authorities, according to preliminary reports.
Experts say the inquiry will examine flight data, pilot inputs, aircraft systems, maneuvering parameters, and environmental factors.
Just a day before the crash, several videos and photos circulated on social media claiming that a Tejas Mk1 aircraft at the air show was leaking fluid, suggesting an oil leak.
The Indian government’s Press Information Bureau (PIB) quickly issued a fact-check: the fluid shown was not oil, but condensed water being drained from the aircraft’s Environmental Control System (ECS) and its On-Board Oxygen Generating System (OBOGS).
According to the PIB, this is a routine procedure, especially in hot and humid environments like Dubai, and not an indication of a malfunction.
In its denial, the government accused certain social media accounts of spreading “propaganda-driven” misinformation aimed at undermining confidence in the Tejas.
The Tejas, developed by HAL, is central to India’s indigenous fighter aircraft programme. This is the second known crash involving the Tejas: a previous incident occurred in March 2024, though in that case, the pilot safely ejected.
