Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Friday that he was 'anguished' after a pilot of the Indian Air Force (IAF) lost his life following the crash of a Tejas fighter jet during the Dubai Air Show 2025. Singh said the entire country stands with the pilot's family, as he paid tribute to the IAF officer who was killed in the incident.
"Deeply anguished at the loss of a brave and courageous IAF pilot during an aerial display in Dubai Air Show," the defence minister posted on X (formerly Twitter). "My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family. The nation stands firmly with the family in this tragic hour."
Earlier, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan also expressed grief after over the IAF pilot's death during the biennial Dubai Air Show 2025. In a statement, the CDS said the Indian Armed Forces stand firmly with the bereaved family of the pilot "in this time of grief".
"General Anil Chauhan, CDS and all ranks of Indian Armed Forces deeply regret the incident in which 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," General Chauhan's statement read.
Tejas crash in Dubai Air Show
Tejas, an indigenous 4.5-generation multi-role aircraft designed by the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), crashed during the Dubai Air Show at the Al Maktoum Airbase on Friday. Many videos of the incident have gone viral on social media that showed the aircraft dropping altitude before crashing on the ground.
In a statement it posted on X, the IAF expressed grief over the incident and said it has ordered a court of inquiry. "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," the statement read.
Rahul Gandhi, others pay condolences
Rahul Gandhi, Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, paid condolences to the family of the pilot. He said, "Deeply saddened by the loss of our brave IAF pilot in the Tejas crash at the Dubai Air Show. My heartfelt condolences to his family. The nation stands with them, honouring his courage and service."
General (retd) VK Singh, former Army chief and Mizoram Governor, said: "I am deeply saddened by the Tejas crash in Dubai. We have lost a dedicated pilot in the line of duty. My sincere condolences to the pilot’s family and the Indian Air Force."
