A series of fatal accidents over the years has underscored the dangers faced by Indian military aircrew, most recently the death of an Indian Air Force (IAF) pilot when a Tejas fighter jet crashed during a flying demonstration at the Dubai Air Show on November 11, 2025. The aircraft went down during a manoeuvre at Al Maktoum International Airport, sending thick black smoke across the venue.

The Dubai crash has renewed scrutiny of earlier incidents involving aerobatic teams and training missions. These past accidents reveal a pattern of high-risk operations that continue to challenge both pilots and safety investigators.

  • In February 2019, two Surya Kiran Hawk jets collided during a rehearsal for Aero India in Bengaluru. Two pilots ejected and survived, but Wing Commander Sahil Gandhi was killed in the crash.
  • In March 2010, a Kiran MK-II aircraft of the Navy’s Sagar Pawan aerobatics team crashed during the India Aviation show in Hyderabad. The jet veered off formation and struck a three-storey building in New Bowenpally, killing pilots Rahul Nair and Maurya instantly and seriously injuring four civilians. Thick smoke and the congested alley hindered rescue efforts.
  • In January 2009, another Surya Kiran trainer aircraft crashed during a training sortie at Bidar, resulting in the death of the pilot. The accident raised concerns at the time about the risks associated with frequent high-intensity training sorties required of aerobatic teams.
  • The deadliest incident remains the October 2002 mid-air collision of two Ilyushin Il-38s over Goa during a ceremonial flypast. All 12 crew members aboard the aircraft were killed, along with three civilians on the ground, after the planes plunged into a house and a nearby field. Sixteen others were injured.

These incidents, spread across more than two decades, highlight the persistent challenges of military aviation, where complex manoeuvres, ageing fleets, and demanding display routines leave little room for error.