India’s defense and aviation sector suffered a major blow when its Tejas Mk-1A fighter jet crashed during an aerial display at the 2025 Dubai Airshow on Friday.
The pilot lost his life in this fatal accident, the Indian Air Force having announced that a court of inquiry was being set up, “to determine the cause of the accident”.
“The IAF deeply regrets the loss of life and stands firmly with the bereaved family in this time of mourning,” reads the official IAF X account.
The fighter jet involved in the accident is India’s first fighter, having made its maiden flight in January 2001, according to a report from AFP.
While the concept of a homegrown fighter jet began in the 1970s, actual work on the aircraft project began in the 1980s.
However, Indian state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited’s (HAL) fighter jet project has faced criticism for years due to delays and cost overruns.
After years of delay, the first two Tejas fighter jets were finally handed over to the IAF in 2016.
This is a developing story and is being updated with more details.
