Dubai Airshow Plane Crash | A dramatic tragedy unfolded at the Dubai Airshow on Friday, when the Indian Air Force’s Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) crashed moments after beginning a high-precision manoeuvre. At 2:08 pm local time, the aircraft was executing a crowd-captivating aerial display when it suddenly lost balance, nosedived, and erupted into flames. The IAF later confirmed that the pilot — flying an aircraft with a near-perfect safety record — had died.
The crash marks only the second accident in Tejas’s 24-year history, prompting concerns and intense scrutiny. Notably, the incident came just a day after the government dismissed viral rumours about an alleged oil leak in the Tejas Mk1 at the same venue.
What Happened in the Final Seconds? Experts Decode Tejas Crash
According to aviation experts, the Tejas appeared to be performing a barrel roll, a manoeuvre involving a full axial rotation in which the jet briefly turns upside down before regaining upright position.
The jet first climbed steeply, flipped inverted, and began its descent. It was supposed to pull up again to complete the loop, but it never recovered.
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IAF Tejas fighter jet crashes at the Dubai Air Show | Pilot dead | Air Forces initiates probe#IAF #TejasCrash #Tejas #DubaiAirshow #indianairforce pic.twitter.com/wCrEzfXwur— The Theorist (@thetheorist_in) November 21, 2025
Experts now believe two factors may have contributed:
Insufficient altitude — The jet may have been too close to the ground to regain lift.
Possible lack of speed — Without adequate velocity, the aircraft would not have had the energy to rise again.
Even though the barrel roll is not considered highly complex, performing it at high speed in a fighter aircraft leaves no room for error. “A minor miscalculation can have catastrophic consequences,” one expert noted.
Investigators Also Exploring Possible Engine Flameout
While the Indian Air Force has not officially revealed the cause, specialists also pointed to a potential engine flameout as a possible scenario.
The Tejas — designed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in Bengaluru — uses engines sourced from General Electric (GE) in the United States. Despite being India’s first home-grown fighter, the propulsion system remains foreign-supplied.
The IAF has been relying heavily on the Tejas to strengthen its shrinking fighter squadron numbers following the complete phase-out of the MiG-21 fleet. The aircraft’s impeccable flight record over two decades has made the crash even more shocking for aviation watchers.
Even so, the LCA remains vital to India’s combat readiness, and the Air Force is expected to continue integrating Tejas variants into its operational roster.
