On November 21, 2025, during the Dubai Airshow held at Al Maktoum International Airport, a HAL Tejas Light Combat Aircraft of the Indian Air Force crashed and was destroyed after losing control while performing a complex aerobatic maneuver in front of international delegates and spectators. The aircraft was executing a negative G-force turn or roll at an extremely low altitude and failed to maintain its angle of attack, resulting in a steep vertical nose-dive. The Tejas slammed into an open area near the runway and erupted into a massive fireball, killing the pilot, Wing Commander Namansh Syal. Emergency teams responded quickly, and all flight operations were temporarily suspended. A court of inquiry has been ordered to investigate the cause of the accident. No immediate technical or mechanical reasons have been publicly disclosed, and the investigation is ongoing. This incident marks the second accident and first fatality in the 23-year history of the Tejas program.
