•Fursan Al Emarat, the aerobatic team of the United Arab Emirates Air Force and Air Defence, performed today
An Indian fighter jet crashed during a flying display at the Dubai Airshow on Friday, killing the pilot in front of hundreds of shocked onlookers.
The Indian-made Tejas warplane was executing a manoeuvre when it plunged to the ground and erupted in a fireball. The pilot was unable to eject, reports AFP.
The crash happened in full view of a packed grandstand watching the aerobatics display on the last day of the Middle East’s biggest air show.
Dubai’s government-run media office confirmed the “tragic death of the pilot” and the Indian Air Force (IAF) announced an inquiry.
“IAF deeply regrets the loss of life and stands firmly with the bereaved family in this time of grief,” it said in a statement.
The plane went down about a mile (1.6 kilometres) from the show site, which was full of planes, helicopters and other hardware on static display.
The United Arab Emirates’ president and prime minister, aviation industry leaders and military top brass were among thousands who attended the show this week.
Videos on social media showed the aircraft plunging to the ground and bursting into flames on impact. Smoke billowed from the crash site as emergency vehicles sped towards it.
“The pilot was flying at a low altitude, performing risky manoeuvres,” Iraqi eyewitness Hassan Loqman told our correspondent.
“Then he seemed he was trying to avoid the accident, he began to steer the plane upwards, but he couldn’t do so in time.”
The incident happened near the start of the daily flying display, which features barrel rolls, loops and other stunts. The demonstration later resumed.
It is the second crash involving the single-seat Tejas in less than two years after a non-fatal training accident in Rajasthan in March last year.
In September, India signed a $7 billion order for 97 upgraded Tejas Mk1A fighter jets to replace its Russian MiG-21 fleet after decades of use.
The Tejas, designed and built in India, was first commissioned into the air force in 2016.
Today’s crash is believed to be the first in the history of the Dubai Airshow, which dates back to 1986.
Dubai’s state-owned Emirates and flydubai airlines signed several major agreements at the airshow, including Emirates’ order for 65 Boeing jets valued at $38 billion.
