The investigation into the crash of an Indian Air Force HAL Tejas Mk-1 fighter aircraft during the Dubai Air Show in November 2025 is still underway, Indian Air Force Vice Chief Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit said on Tuesday.
Speaking in Jodhpur, Air Marshal Dixit said additional components were being procured for the final stage of technical analysis. He indicated that the cause of the accident would be determined after the technical examination is completed.
“The Dubai crash is still under investigation. There are some components which we are trying to get for the final technical analysis. Then we will be able to answer the question,” he was quoted as saying by ANI.
The Tejas fighter aircraft crashed on November 21, 2025, while participating in a flying display at the Dubai Air Show. The accident resulted in the death of Wing Commander Namansh Syal, who was piloting the aircraft.
Following the crash, the Indian Air Force constituted a Court of Inquiry to establish the circumstances and cause of the accident. The IAF had also expressed condolences to the family of the deceased pilot.
According to the supplied report, the aircraft was participating in the flying display when it crashed during a manoeuvre. The aircraft was third in the sequence of the display and was scheduled to begin its routine at around 2:15 pm. The flying demonstration was subsequently brought to an abrupt end when the aircraft nosedived.
The latest comments from the IAF Vice Chief indicate that the technical investigation has not yet reached its final conclusion. The procurement of additional components for technical analysis suggests that investigators are continuing to examine the available evidence before determining the cause of the crash.
The investigation is significant for the Indian Air Force as well as India’s indigenous fighter aircraft programme, given the Tejas Mk-1’s role in the IAF’s combat fleet. However, the supplied report does not provide any preliminary finding or identify a specific technical, human or operational factor as the cause of the accident.
Air Marshal Dixit’s remarks therefore leave the cause of the November 2025 crash open pending completion of the technical analysis. Any conclusion on the circumstances leading to the accident would depend on the findings of the ongoing investigation.
The Dubai Air Show crash occurred during a public flying display, placing the aircraft in a highly visible international aviation setting. The incident resulted in the loss of an IAF pilot and prompted the formal investigative process to establish what led to the accident.
With additional components still being procured for examination, the investigation remains ongoing as of September 2026. The final findings of the Court of Inquiry and associated technical analysis will be required before a definitive cause can be established.
