Swapan Kumar singh :

India’s homegrown light combat aircraft Tejas suffered a major setback to the country’s defence showcase after it crashed during an aerial display at the Dubai Airshow on Friday. The accident occurred around midday at Al Maktoum International Airport when the jet suddenly lost control mid-maneuver and plummeted to the ground, bursting into flames.

The Indian Air Force confirmed that the pilot died at the scene, calling the loss “deeply tragic” and saying that a high-level inquiry has been launched to determine the cause of the crash.

Footage captured by spectators shows the aircraft tilting abruptly during an aerobatic move before rapidly descending and crashing, triggering a large fireball. Emergency crews rushed to the site but were unable to save the pilot.

This is the second crash involving the Tejas fighter. In 2024, another aircraft of the same model went down in Rajasthan. Defence analysts say the latest accident could further strain India’s ambitions to boost defence exports, as Tejas has long been promoted as a flagship of the country’s ‘Make in India’ initiative.