The Indian Air Force’s (IAF) Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas crashed during an aerial display at the Dubai Air Show on Saturday, marking one of the most tragic setbacks in the history of India’s indigenous fighter jet programme. Dramatic videos circulating on social media show the aircraft entering a sudden free-fall before crashing near the Dubai Air Show venue and erupting into a fireball. Eyewitnesses reported that the jet appeared to lose power mid-maneuver, leading to speculation of a possible engine failure.
The IAF confirmed the accident, announcing that the pilot sustained fatal injuries. “An IAF Tejas aircraft met with an accident during an aerial display at the Dubai Air Show today,” the statement said. “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.”
Footage suggests the pilot may have attempted to steer the aircraft away from populated areas instead of ejecting, an act that aviation analysts say could indicate a last-minute effort to avoid civilian casualties. The IAF has not yet commented on whether the pilot attempted or was able to eject.
The crash is a significant blow to India’s military aviation community. The LCA Tejas programme, spanning more than four decades, symbolizes India’s ambition to design and produce a modern fighter jet capable of replacing aging Soviet-era fleets and reducing dependence on foreign suppliers. A great deal was riding on Tejas’s performance at the Dubai Air Show, a premier global defence event where India had been showcasing the aircraft as a competitive export option.
This is only the second known major crash involving the Tejas since its first flight in 2001. The previous incident occurred in March 2024, when a Tejas crashed in Rajasthan after returning from the tri-services “Bharat Shakti” exercise. The aircraft’s overall safety record has been viewed positively, particularly considering its long development cycle and gradual induction into the IAF.
The Tejas, developed by the state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and powered by the American GE F404-IN20 engine, has been a centrepiece of India’s indigenous defence manufacturing drive. India began conceptualizing the Light Combat Aircraft programme in the early 1980s. DRDO’s Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE) was tasked with building an indigenous engine—the GTX-37 and later the Kaveri—but persistent technological hurdles meant the Kaveri engine never met requirements, producing only 70.4 kN of thrust against the targeted 81 kN. Consequently, India redesigned the fighter around the GE F404 engine, a decision that ultimately allowed the programme to move forward.
Following the aircraft’s maiden flight in 2001—piloted by then-Wing Commander Rajiv Kothiyal—Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee named the fighter “Tejas,” meaning “radiance” in Sanskrit.
The IAF placed its first orders for the Mk1 variant in 2006 and 2010, and as of August 2025, two Tejas Mk1 squadrons—No. 45 “Flying Daggers” and No. 18 “Flying Bullets”—are operational at Sulur Air Force Station. India has received 38 of the 40 Mk1 aircraft ordered, with the remaining two being trainer variants.
In 2021, India approved a major procurement of 83 Tejas Mk1A aircraft, valued at Rs 48,000 crore, followed by a record-breaking deal in September 2025 to purchase 97 additional Mk1A jets worth US$7.5 billion. In total, India has now ordered 220 Tejas aircraft, marking the single largest fighter jet acquisition in the country’s history.
Engine supply, however, has been a significant bottleneck. HAL ordered 99 GE-F404 engines in 2021, but delays pushed back the delivery schedule for the Mk1A variant. So far, India has received only four engines, with 12 expected by March 2026. To meet growing production demands, HAL has added a third production line in Nashik and is planning a fourth to raise annual output from 24 to 32 aircraft.
In November, India signed another major deal worth USD 1 billion with GE to supply 113 additional F404 engines, with deliveries starting in 2027—ensuring engine availability for the expanding Mk1A fleet. India is also developing the Tejas Mk2, a more powerful medium-weight fighter expected to form the backbone of the IAF in the 2030s. Projections suggest India could operate over 300 Tejas aircraft by 2035.
The Tejas has increasingly been showcased on the international stage. It participated in its first overseas exercise in the UK in 2022 and later took part in Exercise Desert Flag in the UAE in 2023. Its airshow debut came earlier, at the Bahrain International Airshow in 2016. During India’s Tarang Shakti 2024 exercise, the Tejas impressed foreign observers by simulating a successful interception of a Eurofighter Typhoon.
India has been actively marketing the Tejas abroad, with reports emerging that Brazil has shown interest in the fighter jet. The aircraft’s presence at the Dubai Air Show was part of a broader push to secure export orders.
However, the crash is likely to cast a shadow over India’s export campaign. Defence analysts say countries evaluating the Tejas will closely watch the results of the IAF’s court of inquiry, particularly given the possibility of an engine-related failure.
For India, the tragedy represents not just the loss of a pilot and aircraft, but also a painful moment for an ambitious indigenous programme that has become a symbol of the country’s technological aspirations. As investigations proceed, the focus will be on determining what went wrong—and how India can ensure the future safety and credibility of its homegrown fighter jet.
