‘Oil Leak or Low-Altitude Stunt’: What caused Tejas Jet Crash at Dubai Airshow?
ISLAMABAD – Dubai Airshow remains in global headlines, as ‘Made in India’ fighter jet Tejas goes down, during a daring aerial stunt, killing the pilot. The crash left spectators stunned as cameras captured the dramatic accident in real time.
As the incident brings embarrassment for India, an Aviation expert suggested the stunt may have been performed “too low to ground,” leaving not enough space for the pilot to complete the loop safely.
As tragic crash sparked investigation, the public nature of the incident made it impossible to ignore.
Tejas, India’s homegrown, single-engine, multirole light combat aircraft, is known for its compact delta-wing, tailless design, and exceptional agility. Developed by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) and manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), the aircraft first took to the skies in 2001 after decades of development aimed at replacing India’s aging MiG-21 fleet.
India’s Air Force showcased Tejas alongside its famous Suryakiran Aerobatic Team, continuing a long tradition of displaying cutting-edge technology at international airshows.
While airshow accidents have occurred worldwide, this marks the first catastrophic incident in the history of the Dubai Airshow, which has been running since 1986.
Social media quickly speculated about technical faults after a video reportedly showed an oil leak, though no official cause has been confirmed.
Crashes during high-risk aerial stunts are not uncommon, as performing close to the ground leaves almost no room for error. While pilot mistakes or technical issues can cause such accidents, and mechanical problem was more likely in this case.
