The Indian Air Force has confirmed that the pilot lost his life in the crash, which occurred on Friday afternoon at Al Maktoum International Airport. The Tejas, India’s indigenous light combat aircraft, was performing an aerial display when it suddenly appeared to lose control mid-maneuver.
Witnesses described a steep upward sweep that abruptly stalled, sending the jet spiralling towards the ground. Seconds later, a plume of thick black smoke rose into the sky, triggering panic among attendees on the final day of the airshow.
The Tejas aircraft went down around 2:10 pm local time while performing an aerobatic demonstration at Al Maktoum International Airport. Thick smoke from the crash site triggered panic among spectators, and emergency responders reached the spot within minutes.