The crash of India’s Tejas fighter jet during the Dubai Air Show has triggered sharp criticism from Indian citizens, with growing calls for the resignation of the country’s Air Chief.
The indigenously built Tejas jet went down on Friday while flying a demonstration flight for a crowd in Dubai. Days earlier, a video from the Air Show had shown fuel leaking from the aircraft’s tank, raising concerns about its readiness.
Following the crash, social media users launched a flood of criticism against the Indian Air Force. Anushi Tiwari wrote on X that the incident was a “massive embarrassment” for India and demanded the immediate removal of the Chief of Air Staff.
Another user, Tejaswi Prakash, raised concerns about pilot training, saying that if Indian jets cannot perform basic aerobatic stunts, it raises serious questions about whether pilots are receiving proper training to operate the aircraft. Critics also took aim at the Air Chief, noting that his appearances in dance clips instead of focusing on discipline, training, and technical readiness reflect serious leadership shortcomings.
This marks the second Tejas fighter jet crash in under two years. In March 2024, another Tejas aircraft had crashed in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan.
