Analysis: Possible Causes of the Indian Tejas Fighter Jet Crash at Dubai Airshow 2025
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An Indian Air Force Tejas Light Combat Aircraft crashed during a demonstration at the Dubai Air Show on November 21, 2025, resulting in the pilot’s death and suspending the performance. The incident has drawn global scrutiny, directly challenging confidence in India’s indigenous fighter initiative as New Delhi seeks export opportunities.
An Indian Air Force Tejas fighter went down during a low altitude demonstration at the Dubai Air Show on Thursday, according to air show officials and Indian defense representatives present at the scene. The aircraft appeared to lose control shortly after entering a high-energy maneuver, and preliminary comments from technical teams suggest that a stall, a sudden power interruption, or a fault in the digital fly-by-wire flight control system might have triggered the fatal sequence. Investigators from India and the United Arab Emirates are now working jointly to recover data from the jet’s mission computer and engine monitoring system, which could clarify what caused the loss of control during a maneuver that typically demands precise energy management.Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
An Indian Air Force Tejas Light Combat Aircraft seen moments before and during its fatal crash at Dubai Airshow 2025, where the fighter lost control during a low-altitude aerobatic maneuver, resulting in the death of the pilot and raising urgent questions about the jet’s flight safety and system reliability. (Picture source: Social Network)
The Indian Air Force Tejas fighter jet crash poses a significant challenge for the program, raising operational concerns and casting doubt on India’s ongoing efforts to position the aircraft in international markets.
The HAL Tejas is India’s first fully indigenous multirole fighter jet, developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) under the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) program. Designed to replace the Indian Air Force’s aging MiG-21 fleet, the Tejas represents a critical component of India’s long-term defense-industrial strategy and its ambition to reduce reliance on imported fighter platforms. The aircraft features a tailless delta wing configuration, a digital fly-by-wire flight control system, and is powered by a single General Electric F404 engine. It is engineered for air superiority, interception, and ground attack roles, with a combat radius of over 500 km and provisions for air-to-air and air-to-ground munitions.
Though classified as a fourth-generation platform, the Tejas incorporates several 4.5-generation capabilities, including an advanced glass cockpit, multi-mode radar, electronic warfare systems, and precision targeting pods. It has been steadily entering service with the Indian Air Force, with additional orders placed earlier this year for nearly 100 new units. The Indian government has also been actively marketing the Tejas for export, with interest expressed by Argentina, Malaysia, and Egypt.
Despite its achievements, the Tejas program has faced criticism over delays, cost overruns, and concerns about flight performance in edge-of-envelope scenarios. The crash at Dubai—the most high-profile and fatal accident involving the Tejas to date—comes at a moment of heightened scrutiny, both domestically and internationally.
While the official investigation is ongoing, several potential causes are under consideration based on the available evidence, flight behavior, and aircraft design parameters. One key possibility is aerodynamic stall induced during a high-G or negative-G maneuver at low altitude. The delta-wing configuration of the Tejas offers excellent agility but has known limitations in energy recovery and angle-of-attack control, particularly during abrupt changes in flight profile. In display environments, such maneuvers leave little margin for correction if lift is lost or control surfaces become unresponsive.
Another area of concern is engine reliability. In 2024, a non-fatal Tejas incident was linked to an oil pump failure that led to engine seizure, prompting questions about component redundancy and in-flight diagnostic alerts. Though no engine failure has yet been confirmed in this case, the aircraft’s descent pattern suggests either a sudden loss of thrust or of flight control authority, conditions that could result from a powerplant malfunction, an actuator failure, or a fly-by-wire system error.
Environmental and operational stressors may also have played a role. Air show display aircraft are often pushed to the limits during back-to-back routines, with limited maintenance downtime. Foreign deployments can compound risk through unfamiliar logistics chains, temperature variations, and accelerated wear. The Tejas involved had been performing multiple sorties during the air show week, including high-G routines over Dubai’s humid coastal airspace, where condensation, overheating, or avionics strain may affect aircraft behavior.
It is also worth noting that earlier in the week, a viral video showed liquid dripping beneath a static Tejas display in Dubai. Indian authorities later clarified that the discharge was environmental condensation, not oil or fuel. Nevertheless, any suggestion of a preexisting system’s anomaly—even if unrelated—adds complexity to the inquiry.
From a professional fast-jet pilot’s perspective, the evidence and trajectory of the crash strongly suggest a combination of flight envelope exceedance and insufficient recovery altitude. The Tejas, while highly maneuverable, relies entirely on digital flight control to maintain stability, and any disruption in system logic, sensor feedback, or power output during an aggressive maneuver could compromise the aircraft’s ability to recover.
The Tejas is a delta-wing platform with relaxed static stability, meaning it is inherently unstable and cannot be flown without a fully functioning fly-by-wire system. This allows for superb agility but makes it more susceptible to loss of control if flight laws are degraded or environmental factors distort airflow over the wings or control surfaces. High-G maneuvers at low altitude introduce the risk of an accelerated stall or departure, which, if it occurs below 300 feet above ground level, is often unrecoverable even with pilot inputs or emergency procedures.
Single-engine operation further limits survivability during a power failure. Unlike twin-engine fighters, which can maintain flight on one engine, the Tejas cannot recover from thrust loss below certain speed and altitude thresholds. A sudden engine rollback or stall during a high-angle-of-attack maneuver would likely lead to uncontrollable descent.
Additionally, human factors such as pilot workload, airshow repetition fatigue, and psychological pressure during international displays could have influenced momentary decision-making. Even highly experienced pilots can misjudge maneuver timing or altitude clearance in dynamic conditions. Heat, humidity, and performance expectations contribute to operational stress that cannot be ignored in the final inquiry.
Finally, the lack of ejection suggests that the aircraft’s descent was either too rapid or too disorienting to allow a safe escape. The Tejas is equipped with a Martin-Baker Mk. 16 ejection seat with zero-zero capability, but activation requires time, altitude, and the correct aircraft attitude. If the aircraft entered a negative-G dive or rapidly pitched nose-down, the window for ejection may have closed within seconds.
The investigation will analyze telemetry data, onboard diagnostics, and external footage to identify whether the root cause is system failure, aerodynamic overload, or human error. The outcome, regardless of cause, will affect India’s efforts to market the Tejas abroad and may lead to changes in flight envelope management, demonstration approvals, and export airworthiness certifications.
Army Recognition will continue tracking the inquiry and provide an in-depth technical analysis when preliminary findings are released. For now, the Tejas crash stands as a sobering reminder of the risks inherent in frontline demonstration flights and the unforgiving precision required in advanced combat aviation.Written by Alain Servaes – Chief Editor, Army Recognition GroupAlain Servaes is a former infantry non-commissioned officer and the founder of Army Recognition. With over 20 years in defense journalism, he provides expert analysis on military equipment, NATO operations, and the global defense industry.
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An Indian Air Force Tejas Light Combat Aircraft crashed during a demonstration at the Dubai Air Show on November 21, 2025, resulting in the pilot’s death and suspending the performance. The incident has drawn global scrutiny, directly challenging confidence in India’s indigenous fighter initiative as New Delhi seeks export opportunities.
An Indian Air Force Tejas fighter went down during a low altitude demonstration at the Dubai Air Show on Thursday, according to air show officials and Indian defense representatives present at the scene. The aircraft appeared to lose control shortly after entering a high-energy maneuver, and preliminary comments from technical teams suggest that a stall, a sudden power interruption, or a fault in the digital fly-by-wire flight control system might have triggered the fatal sequence. Investigators from India and the United Arab Emirates are now working jointly to recover data from the jet’s mission computer and engine monitoring system, which could clarify what caused the loss of control during a maneuver that typically demands precise energy management.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
An Indian Air Force Tejas Light Combat Aircraft seen moments before and during its fatal crash at Dubai Airshow 2025, where the fighter lost control during a low-altitude aerobatic maneuver, resulting in the death of the pilot and raising urgent questions about the jet’s flight safety and system reliability. (Picture source: Social Network)
The Indian Air Force Tejas fighter jet crash poses a significant challenge for the program, raising operational concerns and casting doubt on India’s ongoing efforts to position the aircraft in international markets.
The HAL Tejas is India’s first fully indigenous multirole fighter jet, developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) under the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) program. Designed to replace the Indian Air Force’s aging MiG-21 fleet, the Tejas represents a critical component of India’s long-term defense-industrial strategy and its ambition to reduce reliance on imported fighter platforms. The aircraft features a tailless delta wing configuration, a digital fly-by-wire flight control system, and is powered by a single General Electric F404 engine. It is engineered for air superiority, interception, and ground attack roles, with a combat radius of over 500 km and provisions for air-to-air and air-to-ground munitions.
Though classified as a fourth-generation platform, the Tejas incorporates several 4.5-generation capabilities, including an advanced glass cockpit, multi-mode radar, electronic warfare systems, and precision targeting pods. It has been steadily entering service with the Indian Air Force, with additional orders placed earlier this year for nearly 100 new units. The Indian government has also been actively marketing the Tejas for export, with interest expressed by Argentina, Malaysia, and Egypt.
Despite its achievements, the Tejas program has faced criticism over delays, cost overruns, and concerns about flight performance in edge-of-envelope scenarios. The crash at Dubai—the most high-profile and fatal accident involving the Tejas to date—comes at a moment of heightened scrutiny, both domestically and internationally.
While the official investigation is ongoing, several potential causes are under consideration based on the available evidence, flight behavior, and aircraft design parameters. One key possibility is aerodynamic stall induced during a high-G or negative-G maneuver at low altitude. The delta-wing configuration of the Tejas offers excellent agility but has known limitations in energy recovery and angle-of-attack control, particularly during abrupt changes in flight profile. In display environments, such maneuvers leave little margin for correction if lift is lost or control surfaces become unresponsive.
Another area of concern is engine reliability. In 2024, a non-fatal Tejas incident was linked to an oil pump failure that led to engine seizure, prompting questions about component redundancy and in-flight diagnostic alerts. Though no engine failure has yet been confirmed in this case, the aircraft’s descent pattern suggests either a sudden loss of thrust or of flight control authority, conditions that could result from a powerplant malfunction, an actuator failure, or a fly-by-wire system error.
Environmental and operational stressors may also have played a role. Air show display aircraft are often pushed to the limits during back-to-back routines, with limited maintenance downtime. Foreign deployments can compound risk through unfamiliar logistics chains, temperature variations, and accelerated wear. The Tejas involved had been performing multiple sorties during the air show week, including high-G routines over Dubai’s humid coastal airspace, where condensation, overheating, or avionics strain may affect aircraft behavior.
It is also worth noting that earlier in the week, a viral video showed liquid dripping beneath a static Tejas display in Dubai. Indian authorities later clarified that the discharge was environmental condensation, not oil or fuel. Nevertheless, any suggestion of a preexisting system’s anomaly—even if unrelated—adds complexity to the inquiry.
From a professional fast-jet pilot’s perspective, the evidence and trajectory of the crash strongly suggest a combination of flight envelope exceedance and insufficient recovery altitude. The Tejas, while highly maneuverable, relies entirely on digital flight control to maintain stability, and any disruption in system logic, sensor feedback, or power output during an aggressive maneuver could compromise the aircraft’s ability to recover.
The Tejas is a delta-wing platform with relaxed static stability, meaning it is inherently unstable and cannot be flown without a fully functioning fly-by-wire system. This allows for superb agility but makes it more susceptible to loss of control if flight laws are degraded or environmental factors distort airflow over the wings or control surfaces. High-G maneuvers at low altitude introduce the risk of an accelerated stall or departure, which, if it occurs below 300 feet above ground level, is often unrecoverable even with pilot inputs or emergency procedures.
Single-engine operation further limits survivability during a power failure. Unlike twin-engine fighters, which can maintain flight on one engine, the Tejas cannot recover from thrust loss below certain speed and altitude thresholds. A sudden engine rollback or stall during a high-angle-of-attack maneuver would likely lead to uncontrollable descent.
Additionally, human factors such as pilot workload, airshow repetition fatigue, and psychological pressure during international displays could have influenced momentary decision-making. Even highly experienced pilots can misjudge maneuver timing or altitude clearance in dynamic conditions. Heat, humidity, and performance expectations contribute to operational stress that cannot be ignored in the final inquiry.
Finally, the lack of ejection suggests that the aircraft’s descent was either too rapid or too disorienting to allow a safe escape. The Tejas is equipped with a Martin-Baker Mk. 16 ejection seat with zero-zero capability, but activation requires time, altitude, and the correct aircraft attitude. If the aircraft entered a negative-G dive or rapidly pitched nose-down, the window for ejection may have closed within seconds.
The investigation will analyze telemetry data, onboard diagnostics, and external footage to identify whether the root cause is system failure, aerodynamic overload, or human error. The outcome, regardless of cause, will affect India’s efforts to market the Tejas abroad and may lead to changes in flight envelope management, demonstration approvals, and export airworthiness certifications.
Army Recognition will continue tracking the inquiry and provide an in-depth technical analysis when preliminary findings are released. For now, the Tejas crash stands as a sobering reminder of the risks inherent in frontline demonstration flights and the unforgiving precision required in advanced combat aviation.
Written by Alain Servaes – Chief Editor, Army Recognition Group
Alain Servaes is a former infantry non-commissioned officer and the founder of Army Recognition. With over 20 years in defense journalism, he provides expert analysis on military equipment, NATO operations, and the global defense industry.
