ISLAMABAD: A major controversy has erupted after a Tejas light combataircraft of the Indian Air Force crashed during a display at the DubaiAirshow 2025, barely minutes after takeoff. The pilot ejected safely, butthe incident has triggered heated accusations from Indian military circles.
Retired Lieutenant General Sanjay Bakshi, appearing on Republic TV, openlyalleged that the crash was not accidental. He claimed the General ElectricF404 engine, which powers the Tejas, was deliberately compromised byAmerican agencies because Washington now views the indigenous Indianfighter as a strategic threat to its dominance in the regional arms market.
Speaking alongside him, anchor Arnab Goswami declared that the UnitedStates has abandoned India as a reliable partner. He accused America ofshifting its support towards Turkey and Pakistan, citing recent defencedeals and intelligence cooperation as evidence of a major realignment inWashington’s South Asia policy.
Bakshi further asserted that the engine failure was too sudden andcatastrophic to be a routine malfunction. He suggested remote interferenceor pre-planted faults during maintenance, though no technical investigationreport has yet been released by Indian authorities.
The remarks have sparked outrage on Indian social media, with many usersexpressing disappointment over perceived American betrayal. Defenceanalysts, however, have urged caution until the official inquiryestablishes the exact cause of the power loss.
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Neither the US Embassy in New Delhi nor the Indian Ministry of Defence hasissued any statement addressing the sabotage allegations so far.
Source:www.republicworld.com/india/tejas-crash-dubai-airshow-bakshi-goswami-us-blame”>https://www.republicworld.com/india/tejas-crash-dubai-airshow-bakshi-goswami-us-blame
Source:www.defensenews.com/air/2025/11/18/indian-tejas-crashes-dubai-pilot-safe”>https://www.defensenews.com/air/2025/11/18/indian-tejas-crashes-dubai-pilot-safe