- Safiu Kehinde
An event expected to thrill thousands of audiences has rather left them in shock as an Indian fighter jet crashed, killing its pilot while performing at an air show in Dubai.
The Indian Air Force Tejas fighter jet reportedly went down on Friday with video footage showing horrific moment it went up in balls of flames and plume of thick black smoke over Al Maktoum International Airport.
Emergency crews rushed to the scene, and the pilot was tragically killed.
The Indian Air Force, in a statement, expressed deep sadness over the tragic incident as it confirmed the death of the pilot.
“IAF deeply regrets the loss of life and stands firmly with the bereaved family in this time of grief.
“A court of inquiry is being constituted, to ascertain the cause of the accident.” The statement read.
According to the BBC, the India’s Chief of Defence Staff Gen Anil Chauhan said in a statement that all ranks of the Indian Army “deeply regret the incident” and “stand firmly” with the pilot’s bereaved family.
The Dubai Airshow 2025 website says the event has attracted more than 148,000 attendees and exhibitors from 1,500 companies.
The fatal crash happened on the last day of the airshow which began on Monday, hosted at Al Maktoum International Airport.
See video below