A Tejas aircraft taking part in a demonstration at the Dubai Air Show crashed on Friday afternoon, news agency AP reported. The HAL-made fighter jet went down around 2:10 pm local time while performing an aerial display in front of a large crowd.
Thick black smoke was seen rising from the crash site near Al Maktoum International Airport, triggering panic among onlookers, including families with children who had gathered to watch the final day of the airshow. It remains unclear whether the pilot managed to eject before the impact.
According to an early report, the pilot failed to eject before the crash. Local attendees at the airshow told reporters that there were no visible signs of the pilot ejecting in the moments before the aircraft went down. Further details are awaited as authorities continue their assessment.
