The crash of India’s homegrown fighter jet Tejas at the Dubai Airshow has undoubtedly shaken the aerospace community and the nation.
Losing a highly trained Indian Air Force pilot is an irreplaceable tragedy—one that leaves behind grief, unanswered questions, and deep introspection.
Yet, aviation experts insist that a single accident—or even two—cannot and should not define the worth of an aircraft that took decades of scientific grit, engineering discipline, and national pride to build.
Aviation analyst Anant Sethi emphasises a crucial point: “Airshow accidents do not, by themselves, discredit an aircraft.”
Such events involve extreme maneuvers—high-G turns, steep climbs, rapid descents, low-level flying—executed within tight time windows and under the pressure of public demonstration.
Light fighters like Tejas are pushed to the limits of their performance envelope during such displays.
Even globally renowned aircraft have fallen prey to pilot error, misjudged maneuvers, or unexpected mechanical anomalies during air displays. The Airbus A320 crash in France during an air show is a widely cited example.
In the Dubai incident, early visuals suggest the aircraft suddenly pitched downward, lost altitude, attempted a stabilising roll, and then entered free fall. While the Indian Air Force has not yet identified an official cause, typical possibilities being examined include:
- Pilot error during a high-risk maneuver
- Mechanical failure—engine, hydraulics, or control system
- Structural stress factors during intense G-loads
These assessments form part of a thorough Court of Inquiry already initiated by the Air Force.
One Tragedy Cannot define Tejas.
The Tejas program represents over four decades of scientific perseverance, beginning in 1983 with the vision of replacing the ageing MiG-21 fleet with an indigenous lightweight fighter.
After 18 years of development, Tejas made its maiden flight in 2001. Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee later gave it the name “Tejas”—the Sanskrit word for radiance.
Today, Tejas stands alongside the Su-30MKI, Rafale, Mirage-2000, and MiG-29 as part of the Air Force’s frontline fleet. Its uniqueness lies in:
- 50% indigenous components, a pillar of India’s aerospace self-reliance
- EL/M-2052 Israeli AESA radar, capable of tracking 10 targets at once
- Short take-off capability on a 460-meter runway
- Exceptional lightweight design, just 6,500 kg—lighter than all other IAF fighters
Countries like Argentina, Egypt, Malaysia, Botswana, the Philippines, and Nigeria had already expressed interest in procurement. A crash at an international airshow will understandably raise questions—but it also presents a critical opportunity.
A Moment for Introspection, Not Abandonment
The tragic loss in Dubai is not a verdict against Tejas—it is a call for deeper examination.
Every modern fighter has suffered setbacks during its developmental and operational life.
The F-16, Eurofighter Typhoon, Gripen, and even the F-35 have endured multiple crashes before becoming world-class platforms.
The makers of Tejas—HAL, DRDO, ADA, and dozens of private Indian suppliers—now stand at a defining moment.
This is their opportunity to analyse, correct, refine, and strengthen the aircraft. If a flaw exists, it must be eliminated with absolute precision so that no future Tejas pilot pays with his life.
As many experts put it:
“When a jockey falls, he does not give up riding.”
India’s indigenous fighter program must follow the same spirit.
The nation does not turn away from challenges—it learns, adapts, and comes back stronger.
The Tejas team must now prove, with engineering integrity and relentless improvement, that India’s fighter jet is not only capable of performing but is worthy of the very purpose for which it was built: to defend the nation with pride, reliability, and indomitable spirit.
