Fans at an airshow watched in horror as a fighter jet smashed into the ground, exploding on impact and killing the pilot. A wall of fire and smoke was visible on the final day of the Dubai Airshow at Dubai World Central on Friday, after a HAL Tejas fighter of the Indian Air Force plunged from the sky. It is the second Tejas crash since March 2024, when another crashed in Rajasthan, according to NDTV. The jets are central to India’s hopes of modernizing its air force, a key element of Indian defense policy as it seeks to match neighboring rival Pakistan, which China is supplying. India’s state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Limited makes the jets. Indian opposition leader Rahul Gandhi said in a post on X, “Deeply saddened by the loss of our brave IAF pilot in the Tejas crash at the Dubai Air Show. My heartfelt condolences to his family. The nation stands with them, honouring his courage and service.” The Indian Air Force said in a statement, “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.”
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