An Indian aircraft just crashed at the Dubai Airshow, killing the pilot instantly. While there is absolutely no doubt that it’s a tragedy, but this tragedy is not an isolated incident. It reflects deep systematic issues within the Indian Air Force, especially the aviation programs.
And it also raises some very serious questions about the operational safety, maintenance standards, and the political promotion of defense projects that prioritize optics over human lives. According to reports, up till September 2023, India has lost 2,374 aircrafts, including 1,126 fighter jets, hundreds of non-fighter planes, and more than 1,300 pilots have lost their lives. Indian Parliamentary report, which for obvious reason is going to be very conservative, even that report says that between 2017 and 2022, the IAF recorded 34 aircraft accidents.
Many were attributed to the human error, but there’s a reality that the technical flaws, inadequate maintenance, and aging aircraft, such as the MiG-21, have also played a major role. The HAL Tejas, India’s indigenous light combat aircraft, which crashed today, was designed to showcase the political narrative and rhetoric of self-reliance, and the slogan was Atmanirbhar Bhai. While it was promoted as a technological achievement, on the other hand, the program itself has always been plagued by the cost overruns, design flaws, delays, and quality issues.
Multiple reports, both Indian and international reports, have alleged corruption and mismanagement, including inflating costs, delayed payments to subcontractors, and repeated reliance on foreign components, such as the GE F404 engine, due to the failure of their indigenous Kaveri engine. Public statements by Indian defense analysts describe Tejas as a political project rather than a fully operational fighter, with some calling it a flying coffin that has replaced older, accident-prone aircraft, the MiG-21. Tejas crash also highlights a serious risk for international airshows. Aircraft from a country with such poor safety record put both the pilots and the spectators at risk. Maneuvers near the crowds are inherently dangerous, and platforms with technical flaws are less predictable during complex displays. Global organizers and partner air forces must consider stricter safety requirements through audits and operational certification before allowing Indians to perform at high-profile events.
Without these precautions, the lives of spectators and pilots could be endangered. The political narrative surrounding Tejas, emphasizing pride and self-reliance, cannot come at the expense of lives. The recurring accident revealed that prestige and optics are being prioritized over safety, accountability, professionalism, operational risk.
Transparent audits, independent safety reports, and strict adherence to maintenance and training protocols are urgently needed. Without these measures, India risks continuing a cycle in which pilots die, aircraft fail, and the political narrative overshadows the very lives and credibility they claim to protect.
