An Indian Air Force pilot lost his life on Friday when a Tejas light combat aircraft (LCA Mk-1) crashed during an aerial display at the Dubai Airshow. According to the IAF, the aircraft went down while performing a manoeuvre, and the pilot sustained fatal injuries. A court of inquiry has been initiated to determine the cause of the accident.
Visuals shared online showed the indigenous fighter jet hitting the ground and bursting into flames. The incident occurred as the IAF was preparing to induct the more advanced LCA Mk-1A variant into its fleet. This marks only the second recorded crash involving the Tejas platform since its induction.
The previous crash took place in March 2024 near Jaisalmer, where another single-engine Tejas aircraft went down shortly after participating in a tri-services exercise. The pilot in that case ejected safely. Both aircraft involved in the two crashes were from the Mk-1 fleet, which includes the initial operational clearance and final operational clearance configurations.
The Dubai Airshow, held this year from November 17 to 21, brought together aerospace companies and industry professionals from around the world. The Tejas crash occurred on the final day of the event.
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