An Indian Tejas Mk1A Fighter Jet crashed during Aerial display in Dubai Airshow 2025.

Tejas Mk1A Fighter Jet is India’s homemade fighter jet with exceptional capabilities as per Indian claims. On November 25, 2023, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had a flight on Tejas. After the flight, Mr. Modi claimed: “Tejas is India’s pride, a manifestation of the strength and skills of 140 crore Indians.” He began his X tweet with “A flight to remember!” In fact, India ranks fourth in World’s Largest Air Forces in 2025.

However, it wasn’t much longer when a Tejas Mk1A Fighter Jet was supposed to showoff its capabilities at Dubai Airshow 2025. There, it flew for a while, took some curves and crashed unexpectedly. It was a big blow to Indian defense industry, especially after its huge failure in its war with Pakistan in May 2025. India was expecting no response from Pakistan. However, a prompt and calculated attack on India resulted in involvement of international powers. President Trump claimed to stop the war on May 10, 2025.

Still, Mr. Modi’s tweet in 2023 was left to face the reality check. He had taken the flight while claiming that Tejas is India’s pride. He was expecting several international buyers for India’s premium aircraft. At the time, India was becoming an economic power and it was looking itself as a defense giant as well.

https://x.com/narendramodi/status/1728388759161311548

However, the fate had decided otherwise.

https://x.com/narendramodi/status/1728308694512013360

On May 10, 2025, the Indian defense hegemony was put to ground by coordinated attack from the Pakistani side. The Indians were shocked to see such a response from Pakistan. Since then, the Indian defense infrastructure continues to stand up at the international arena. But, one after another, it continues to face humiliation at all fronts.

Tejas Crash & Orders Cancellation

The Tejas crash is, indeed, another one. The fighter jet came to showcase its design, structure, capabilities and the standard. Instead, it crashed to the ground in a few minutes.

The defense of a nation is no joke. It is a serious business which defines the sovereignty of a nation state. The crash of Tejas Mk1A Fighter Jet has increased the concern of international buyers for the fighter jet.

In December 2023, Mr. C. B. Ananthakrishnan, Chairman of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited had told Bloomberg that Nigeria, Philippines & Argentina are in discussions to get Tejas. There was an increasing interest from several other countries considering India’s hi-tech defense capabilities. Although, the showoff with Pakistan in May 2025 had resulted in some reservations on the defense capabilities. Still, some viewed it as inability of the Indian pilots instead of the defense technology. After all, the Rafales are one of the top fighter jets globally.

Thus, the crash of Tejas at Dubai Airshow has pointed out the operational weaknesses of fighter jet. Resultantly, Chinese Shanghai Eye has reported that orders amounting US$ 4.6 billion from Egypt, Argentina and Nigeria were frozen immediately. As orders get cancelled for Tejas Mk1A Fighter Jet, it also questions Indian defense capabilities and standards.