DUBAI – An Indian Tejas fighter jet crashed during a flying display at the Dubai Airshow on Friday, killing the pilot. While the cause of the accident has not been officially confirmed, videos circulating online sparked speculation about technical issues with the aircraft.
This country is unbelievable. How is anyone supposed to trust a single official statement at this point?
Yesterday PIB was chest-thumping about ‘no oil leak reported,’ and today a Tejas crashes and the pilot dies.
The denial vs. reality gap is so insane it feels like we’re… pic.twitter.com/H2BALcBXgt
— @SyndromeKnight (@syndrome_knight) November 21, 2025
Some social media users suggested an oil leak may have contributed to the crash, though Indian officials refuted the claims. India’s Press Information Bureau (PIB) stated that the fluid seen in the footage was part of a routine pre-flight drainage process to remove condensation, dismissing reports of technical malfunction as a “false narrative” aimed at undermining the jet’s reliability.
INDIAN #Tejas fighter just CRASHED at the #Dubai Air Show! Don’t these people ever learn? Why would you fly a plane that’s LEAKING OIL? ✈️♂️ pic.twitter.com/iTCpJ3vBZK
— Turkish Century (@TurkishCentury) November 21, 2025
Defence experts noted that aerobatic displays inherently carry high risks. Air Marshal (retd) Asim Saleem told Geo News that crashes during such risky maneuvers are not uncommon, often stemming from pilot error or technical problems. He highlighted that the tight margins during low-altitude stunts leave little room for mistakes.
PIB Fact Check, where are you now?
X Users warned about the oil leakage yesterday, and today the #Tejas aircraft has actually crashed at Dubai Air Show. It’s concerning how such serious faults are falsely covered instead of being addressed.
I just hope the pilot is safe. pic.twitter.com/CjOqVtxX0h
— Dimo Tai (@dimo_tai) November 21, 2025
Saleem added that the pressure of performing at high-profile airshows can increase the likelihood of errors. He also referenced past concerns expressed by Indian Air Force officials over certain aircraft quality issues, suggesting that technical problems could not be ruled out in this instance.
Looks like a pilot mistake. #Tejas #DubaiAirShow pic.twitter.com/o96QHhGEMt
— Sunil Chouhan (@sunilc65) November 21, 2025
The crash has prompted renewed scrutiny of the Tejas fighter jet, which has been showcased internationally as part of India’s indigenous defence manufacturing efforts. Investigations are expected to determine the exact cause of the tragic incident.
We kept warning about the oil leak and lack of maintenance but all was ignored.#Tejas pic.twitter.com/Yvat9sMnim
— Zohan Mehar (@ZohanTalks) November 21, 2025
We kept warning about the oil leak and the glaring maintenance failures but everything was brushed aside.
Today’s Tejas crash is not an accident it is the exact outcome of negligence wrapped in overconfidence.#Tejas #DubaiAirShow #India pic.twitter.com/X9dEvl3o0f
— South West Defender (@SW_Defender) November 21, 2025
It is sad to lose your life like that because everyone involved was too lazy to check for oil leak. https://t.co/PZp6Oautn0
— Wassal (@wassalshbh) November 21, 2025