ISLAMABAD: A dramatic crash of an Indian Air Force Tejas fighter jet at theDubai Air Show on Friday has sent shockwaves through regional defencecircles, particularly amid longstanding hostilities between India andPakistan. The indigenous aircraft plummeted during a high-profile aerobaticdisplay, killing the pilot and raising urgent questions about itsreliability. Eyewitnesses described a sudden loss of control, with thickblack smoke billowing from the wreckage at Al Maktoum International Airport.
Retired Air Marshal Sanjeev Kapoor, former Director General for Inspectionand Safety, described the incident as deeply unsettling for India’saviation establishment. “The ill-fated Tejas crash a little while ago inDubai has actually shaken up the whole system,” he told media, cautioningagainst premature conclusions. Kapoor highlighted potential mechanicalissues, fly-by-wire malfunctions, or control surface failures as primarysuspects, while noting that a court of inquiry would meticulously probe allangles, including sabotage conspiracy.
The inquiry team is set to extract data from the Flight Data Recorder (FDR)and Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) to reconstruct the final moments. Thismarks only the second known Tejas mishap since its 2016 induction,underscoring the aircraft’s generally strong safety record over nearly twodecades. However, the timing—during an international showcase—has amplifiedscrutiny on Hindustan Aeronautics Limited’s production standards and thejet’s US-sourced General Electric F404 engine.
Speculation has swiftly turned geopolitical, with whispers of externalinterference gaining traction. Retired Major General GD Bakshi, a vocaldefence commentator, pointed fingers at deliberate delays in enginesupplies from General Electric, suggesting possible US intentional sabotageto hinder India’s self-reliance push. “The late provision of Tejas enginesreeks of calculated obstruction,” Bakshi asserted in a televised debate,linking it to broader strategic pressures on New Delhi.
Indian analysts believe, In the shadow of India-Pakistan rivalry, thesabotage narrative inevitably implicates Islamabad as a potential actor,given historical covert operations along the Line of Control. Pakistanidefence analysts, speaking anonymously, dismissed direct involvement butacknowledged the crash as a blow to India’s “Make in India” defenceambitions. Regional tensions, exacerbated by recent border skirmishes, haveprompted calls for transparent investigations to prevent escalation.
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The Indian Air Force expressed profound grief over the pilot’s death,vowing full support to the bereaved family. As Dubai authorities assist inthe probe, the incident underscores vulnerabilities in multinationaldefence collaborations. For South Asia, it serves as a stark reminder ofhow technical failures can intersect with enduring animosities, potentiallyreshaping aerial power dynamics.
Source:www.dw.com/en/indian-air-force-tejas-jet-crashes-at-dubai-air-show/a-74835184″>https://www.dw.com/en/indian-air-force-tejas-jet-crashes-at-dubai-air-show/a-74835184
Source:www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/11/21/indias-home-built-fighter-jet-tejas-crashes-at-dubai-air-show-pilot-dies”>https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/11/21/indias-home-built-fighter-jet-tejas-crashes-at-dubai-air-show-pilot-dies