21 November,2025 07:34 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondent
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi expressed his grief over the death of pilot. File Pic
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi expressed his grief over the death of an Indian Air Force (IAF) pilot who died in an accident when a Tejas jet crash in Dubai.
The aircraft crashed during a flight demonstration at the Dubai Air Show 2025.
Rahul Gandhi wrote on X, "Deeply saddened by the loss of our brave IAF pilot in the Tejas crash at the Dubai Air Show. My heartfelt condolences to his family."
The tragic incident occurred on the final day of the airshow at Al Maktoum International Airport, shortly after take-off, during an aerial display before a large crowd. Emergency teams responded immediately, but the pilot sustained fatal injuries.
The IAF has announced a court of inquiry to investigate the cause of the crash.
A Tejas fighter jet of the Indian Air Force (IAF) crashed during a flight demonstration.
In an official statement, the IAF said that the pilot in the Tejas jet crash in Dubai sustained fatal injuries in the incident.
"An IAF Tejas aircraft met with an accident during an aerial display at Dubai Air Show, today. 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," an official statement released on X by the IAF stated.
"A Tejas fighter aircraft from India participating in today's flying display at the Dubai Airshow has crashed, resulting in the tragic death of the pilot. Firefighting and emergency teams responded rapidly to the incident and are currently managing the situation on-site," a statement from the official account of the Government of Dubai Media Office said.
The plane went down shortly after take-off while performing an aerial display in front of a large crowd. Eyewitnesses reported seeing plumes of black smoke rising from the aircraft, and emergency teams, including helicopters and firefighters, rushed to the scene. The show was temporarily halted, and visitors were directed back to the exhibition area.
An official statement, the Chief of Defence Staff, said, "The General Anil Chauhan, CDS and all ranks of Indian Armed Forces deeply regret the incident in which an IAF Tejas aircraft met with an accident during an aerial display at Dubai Air Show, today. The pilot sustained fatal injuries in the accident. We deeply regret the loss of life and stand firmly with the bereaved family in this time of grief."
