Tejas crashes at Dubai Air Show: IAF regrets 'loss of life'

In a tragic incident, an Indian Air Force Tejas fighter jet crashed during a demonstration at the Dubai Air Show on Friday, and the pilot lost his life. Taking it to X, IAF said, “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.”

It further added that, “A court of inquiry is being constituted to ascertain the cause of the accident.”

The crash occurred during the biennial Dubai Air Show, one of the world’s largest aviation exhibitions. The event has seen major announcements this week.

Notably, this is the second crash involving a Tejas aircraft, the first one being in 2024 near Jaisalmer.

In March 2024, a Tejas fighter went down in Rajasthan’s Jaisalmer, the first such accident in the aircraft’s 23-year history since its maiden test flight in 2001. The pilot ejected safely in that case.

LCA Tejas is a 4.5-generation, all-weather and multi-role fighter aircraft. The aircraft is designed to be a multi-role aircraft capable of taking up offensive air support, close combat and ground attack roles at ease.

 

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[emgee]

Sounds like GLoC.
Wishing his family and friends strength and fortitude.

 

[Ammoman]

Very sad day for the pilots family and for India.

Something stinks here. I saw a video of the jet in Dubai, parked on the runway. The build quality is crap, it was leaking fluid. People of India have to demand answers. Is this the best that we can do? It didn't have a weapon package. Has the integration of weapons been completed? Why does the plane look like it was made in a garage? India has to make HAL accountable and also the government. Why are we using an engine that was out of date and discontinued? Why does the government and HAL keep lying about why it hasn't delivered any 1A jets? If anyone says it's GE's fault, you know they are a paid influencer.

I am not saying it was a mechanical issue that brought down the plane. There will be an enquiry, it will never be released publicly. My opinion is the pilot was doing a maneuver too low to the ground. There is no room for error. Question is who designed and approved the maneuvers the pilot was tasked to do. Following is a good unbiased video by a retired British pilot.

 

[Mc Addy]

Sad

 

[hicco]

Bless you brother.

 

[P2S2]

Sounds like GLoC.
Wishing his family and friends strength and fortitude.

I would recommend looking nearer at activities of so called friends. Loss of cash cows generate manipulative tendencies. Killers of humans have no regret killing family members. Double dealing is an artform you may find the lower levels on the dark web. The higher ups providing business create 'em

 

[opg99]

This is one of the things bound to happen as hal is not a world class company to build & deliver complex machinery like an aircraft, hal is an Enigma & drdo is just like pak's isi "a Deep state" as most of the projects in drdo is quite intriguing.

 

[P2S2]

Very sad day for the pilots family and for India.

Something stinks here. I saw a video of the jet in Dubai, parked on the runway. The build quality is crap, it was leaking fluid. People of India have to demand answers. Is this the best that we can do? It didn't have a weapon package. Has the integration of weapons been completed? Why does the plane look like it was made in a garage? India has to make HAL accountable and also the government. Why are we using an engine that was out of date and discontinued? Why does the government and HAL keep lying about why it hasn't delivered any 1A jets? If anyone says it's GE's fault, you know they are a paid influencer.

I am not saying it was a mechanical issue that brought down the plane. There will be an enquiry, it will never be released publicly. My opinion is the pilot was doing a maneuver too low to the ground. There is no room for error. Question is who designed and approved the maneuvers the pilot was tasked to do. Following is a good unbiased video by a retired British pilot.

A whole lot of manoeuvring that requires excellent health and alertness. Looks like this is the end of HAL's showmanship. Like the killings of our capable chiefs in aircraft we have to accept our failures and bunker down closing the hatches. Then there will be just one thing and that would be kirt, kirt, kirt. In the meantime Direction is critical.

 

[Ammoman]

This is one of the things bound to happen as hal is not a world class company to build & deliver complex machinery like an aircraft, hal is an Enigma & drdo is just like pak's isi "a Deep state" as most of the projects in drdo is quite intriguing.

If you want to improve quality, cost and delivery schedule, you must bring in competition. HAL has a monopoly. Competition brings in efficiency and companies must perform or they don't paid. Simple. We need to create a ecosystem of 1000s of private suppliers, competition brings excellence. Only then will India become a military production behemoth.

 

[JB]

The delta wing thermodynamics coupled with the lack of canards and a conventional tail render this aircraft less than fit for purpose. Furthermore suboptimal FBW computers restrict aggressive maneuvers at low altitude. Clearly both the command authority and HAL must share responsibility for this tragic loss. Further production of this aircraft must be halted in favor of the mk2 and possible purchase and /or local production of the su57.

 

[Ammoman]

The delta wing thermodynamics coupled with the lack of canards and a conventional tail render this aircraft less than fit for purpose. Furthermore suboptimal FBW computers restrict aggressive maneuvers at low altitude. Clearly both the command authority and HAL must share responsibility for this tragic loss. Further production of this aircraft must be halted in favor of the mk2 and possible purchase and /or local production of the su57.

Modern Jets are a weapons platform. Dog fights are from the past. BVR missiles and precision weapons launched from Tejas will work. India needs to focus on integration of weapon packages. That is the reason why HAL can not deliver even 1 jet.

 

[emgee]

The delta wing thermodynamics...

Thermodynamics...🤔
The accident was not the result of shortfalls in the design of the airframe or the fbw system.
The pilot flew an outside turn. This increased the blood pressure in his brain. His body reacted by dilating the veins in the abdomen and legs.
As he rolled the plane blood quickly rushed into the dilated veins, causing loss of consciousness.

 

[Ammoman]

Thermodynamics...🤔
The accident was not the result of shortfalls in the design of the airframe or the fbw system.
The pilot flew an outside turn. This increased the blood pressure in his brain. His body reacted by dilating the veins in the abdomen and legs.
As he rolled the plane blood quickly rushed into the dilated veins, causing loss of consciousness.

You are probably correct.
Who designed the maneuvers at the Dubai show? Was it to make HAL and the government look good? Not taking safety into consideration?

 

[emgee]

You are probably correct.
Who designed the maneuvers at the Dubai show? Was it to make HAL and the government look good? Not taking safety into consideration?

I assume that HAL and the Tejas flight test team are responsible for the demonstration.
Outside turns are meant to demonstrate the responsiveness of the airframe while under negative g. Mirage 2000 demonstration pilots did this a lot back in the day. The most experienced of them was Patrick Experton. An exceptional test pilot. The Mirage 2000 is probably the best handling fighter.