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Tejas Fighter Jet Crashes During Demo at Dubai Air Show, Pilot Killed

  • By Thetripurapost Desk, Dubai/New Delhi
  • Nov 21, 2025
  • 567


An Indian Air Force Tejas light combat aircraft crashed during a demonstration flight at the Dubai Air Show on Friday, resulting in the death of the pilot, Wing Commander Naman Syal. The accident took place at Al Maktoum Airport at around 3:40 pm Indian Standard Time, according to news agency AP.

Eyewitnesses reported that the aircraft caught fire on impact, sending a large plume of black smoke over the airfield. Emergency response teams rushed to the site, but the pilot could not be saved.

Pilot From Himachal Pradesh

Wing Commander Naman Syal, who lost his life in the accident, hailed from Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh. The Indian Air Force expressed deep grief and confirmed that a Court of Inquiry has been ordered to investigate the crash.

Second Known Tejas Crash

This is the second major incident involving a Tejas fighter. The previous crash occurred in 2024 in Pokhran, Rajasthan, where an aircraft went down due to an engine failure while performing a maneuver.

The current crash video circulating online shows the Tejas entering a steep dive with no lateral or gliding movement, indicating that the pilot may have been unable to recover after losing control.

What the Preliminary Reports Indicate

According to early assessments, the crash occurred after the aircraft failed to recover from a negative G-force maneuver. During the dive, the pilot may have experienced sudden physiological overload, impairing the ability to regain control in time.

Understanding Negative G-Force

A negative G-force occurs when an aircraft abruptly transitions into a downward dive, causing the body to shift opposite to gravity. Instead of being pushed into the seat, the pilot feels as if they are being lifted out of it.

Effects on the Pilot

  • Blood rushes to the head

  • Dizziness and blurred vision

  • Loss of spatial awareness

  • Rapid difficulty maintaining aircraft control within seconds

Such conditions can be dangerous during aggressive aerobatic maneuvers, especially at low altitude where recovery time is minimal.

Significance of the Accident

The incident comes at a time when Tejas has been undergoing international demonstrations to boost export prospects as India seeks to showcase its indigenous defense capabilities. The crash is likely to prompt a detailed technical review of safety systems, maneuver limitations, and pilot training protocols for high-stress aerial displays.