A fiery mid-air crash at the Dubai Airshow has raised fresh questions about India’s Tejas fighter jet program, as the Indian Air Force confirmed that the pilot was killed in the accident.
The Indian-made Tejas jet was performing a low-level maneuver at around 2.15 pm when it suddenly plunged to the ground and exploded in a massive fireball, shocking spectators and aviation officials. Moments later, the Dubai government released images showing emergency crews battling the burning wreckage.
According to authorities, “this is the second reported accident involving the fighter jets,” a development that could severely affect India’s long-term plans to modernize its aging air fleet. The Tejas project has been central to India’s strategy to replace its Russian and Soviet-era aircraft with modern, locally produced fighters powered by General Electric engines.
Defense analysts warn that another crash at an international stage will increase scrutiny on safety, engineering reliability, and India’s push for indigenous military aviation technology.
