Dubai air show horror: Indian fighter jet crashes during display killing pilot

An Indian fighter jet has been killed in a crash during a demonstration at the Dubai Air Show.

The incident took place near Al Maktoum International Airport at about 2.10pm local time on Friday.

The Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd's Tejas jet crashed during a demonstration flight for a crowd, the Associated Press said.

It was not immediately clear if the pilot ejected in time, but the Indian Air Force has since confirmed that the pilot died in the crash.

In a statement, the organisation said: “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.”

This is the second time a Tejas fighter jet has crashed, following a previous incident which took place during a training exercise in India in 2024.

A witness described seeing the fighter jet flying at a low altitude, moments before crashing into a ball of fire and sirens began to sound.

Footage shows black smoke rising from the scene of the incident.

The site was hosting the Dubai Air Show - a biennial event for the aviation industry to place orders on aircraft, from long-haul carriers like Emirates to low-cost airlines like FlyDubai.