An Indian HAL Tejas Light Combat Aircraft crashed during an aerial display at the Dubai Air Show on Thursday, resulting in the death of the pilot.
The crash occurred at approximately 2:10 PM local time at Al Maktoum International Airport. According to officials present at the event, the aircraft was performing a complex maneuver when it suddenly lost altitude and struck the ground, erupting into a massive fireball visible across the airfield.
Emergency response teams reached the site within minutes, but the pilot was declared dead at the scene. The name of the pilot has not been released as the IAF awaits completion of formal procedures.
In a statement issued shortly after the incident, the Indian Air Force expressed deep regret and confirmed that a Court of Inquiry has been ordered to determine the exact cause of the crash. “The IAF stands firmly with the bereaved family in this moment of grief,” the statement read.
