New Delhi: A Tejas fighter jet of the Indian Air Force crashed during a demonstration at the Dubai Air Show on Friday afternoon, killing the pilot. The indigenous HAL-built aircraft went down around 2:10 pm local time while executing an aerial manoeuvre, sending thick black smoke into the sky near the airport and causing panic among spectators.

In an official statement, the Indian Air Force confirmed the pilot’s death, saying, “An IAF Tejas aircraft met with an accident during an aerial display at Dubai Air Show, today. The pilot sustained fatal injuries in the accident. IAF deeply regrets the loss of life and stands firmly with the bereaved family in this time of grief.”

Preliminary assessments and video footage indicate the pilot was unable to eject, as no parachute deployment or ejec

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