Airspacenews.com

Dubai, UAE — 21 November 2025 A HAL Tejas LCA Mk.1 , operated by the Indian Air Force (IAF) under registration LA-5026 , was destroyed during a demonstration flight at the Dubai Airshow , held at Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC). The pilot, the sole occupant, suffered fatal injuries. The accident occurred during an aerobatic sequence that involved several high-energy maneuvers. According to initial information circulating through news outlets and social media, the aircraft entered a steep nose-down attitude while transitioning between display elements. Video fragments shared online indicate that the pilot initiated a recovery and briefly returned the jet toward a more level attitude. However, the aircraft did not regain stable flight before impacting the ground. The ejection seat did not separate from the aircraft during the final moments of the flight. The reason why ejection did not occur remains unknown. Factors such as altitude, aircraft attitude, timing, and G-forces are...