An Indian HAL Tejas combat jet went down at about 2.10 pm local time on Friday during a demonstration sortie at the Dubai Air Show, claiming the life of its sole pilot. The pilot was identified as Wg Cdr Namansh Syal, who is in his mid-30s and hails from Himachal Pradesh, according to available accounts.

Thick black smoke rose over Al Maktoum International Airport at Dubai World Central as spectators watched and sirens rang out. It was not immediately known whether the pilot ejected or if there were any injuries.

The Indian Air Force, on X, noted “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.”

The crash comes a day after India’s Ministry of Defence issued a strong fact-check against “fake” social media posts claiming that the Tejas had suffered an “oil leakage” during the air show. The Ministry dismissed the videos and messages as “baseless propaganda,” saying some accounts were deliberately attempting to undermine the fighter’s proven technical reliability.

According to the Ministry, the videos circulating online showed a routine and intentional draining of condensed water from the aircraft’s Environmental Control System (ECS) and On-Board Oxygen Generating System (OBOGS). This is a standard procedure for aircraft operating in humid conditions like Dubai, which was clarified while sharing screenshots of posts spreading misinformation.

 This marks the second accident involving a Tejas fighter jet, following the first crash reported in 2024 near Jaisalmer. In March 2024, a Tejas aircraft crashed in Rajasthan’s Jaisalmer, the maiden accident in the fighter’s 23-year operational history since its inaugural test flight in 2001. The pilot had managed to eject safely on that occasion.
The LCA Tejas is a 4.5-generation fighter aircraft built for all-weather operations and designed for multiple mission profiles, including offensive air support, close-range combat and ground strikes. It is also equipped to perform both ground and maritime missions effectively.

India has been showcasing a wide range of defence and aerospace capabilities at the Dubai Air Show 2025 from November 17–18. The Indian Air Force participated with performances by the Suryakiran Aerobatic Team and an exhibition of the indigenously developed Tejas.

Union Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth led the Indian delegation, which included senior officials from the Ministry of Defence, the Department of Defence Production, the Ministry of External Affairs, and the Armed Forces.

The biennial Dubai Air Show is one of the world’s premier aerospace events, featuring over 1,500 exhibitors and more than 1,48,000 industry experts from 150 countries, including major global players such as Airbus, Dassault Aviation, Lockheed Martin, Bombardier, Embraer, Thales and Calidus.
(With PTI & IANS inputs)