An Indian-made fighter plane crashed during a display at the Dubai Air Show on Friday, news agencies reported.
Authorities in Dubai said emergency teams were at the scene and firefighters were tackling the blaze.
What do we know about the accident?
The crash occurred at about 2.10 pm (1010 GMT) when the plane made a low roll and burst into flames about 1 mile (1.6 kilometers) from the show venue.
Crowds gathered at Dubai World Central’s Al Maktoum International Airport in the United Arab Emirates to watch the air show.
The Associated Press reported that the jet flew several times across the demonstration site before losing control and diving straight toward the ground. The pilot died on impact.
“An Indian Tejas fighter aircraft participating in today’s flight demonstration at the Dubai Airshow has crashed, resulting in the tragic death of the pilot,” Dubai’s government media office posted on Twitter.
The death was confirmed in a statement by the Indian Air Force.
“The IAF deeply regrets the loss of lives and stands strongly with the bereaved family in this hour of grief,” it said. “A court of inquiry is being constituted to determine the cause of the accident,” it said.
India’s NDTV journalist Aditya Raj Kaul shared footage of the crash on social media, saying there was no report of the pilot ejecting.
What is Indian made Tejas jet?
The single-engine, lightweight Tejas jet is built by Indian state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, or HAL.
Amid the expanding Chinese military presence in South Asia and growing ties with Indian rival Pakistan, India’s Defense Ministry ordered 97 jets, mostly Russian and ex-Soviet aircraft, to boost its weak air force.
Friday’s crash is the second known case involving the Tejas jet. Another accident was reported in 2024 during an exercise in Rajasthan, India. The pilot managed to escape in that incident.
Delivery of the jet has been delayed due to the need to import engines made by General Electric from the US.
Edited by: Sam Dusan Inayatullah