Tejas crash during Dubai air show ‘isolated occurrence’, no impact on future deliveries: Jet maker HAL

NEW DELHI: Calling the tragic crash of the light combat aircraft Tejas during an aerial display at the Dubai Air Show an “isolated occurrence arising out of exceptional circumstances”, its maker Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) on Monday asserted that there is “no impact” on its business operations, financial performance or future deliveries.

In a stock exchange filing, the state-owned company stated that it is extending full support and cooperation to the agencies investigating the crash and will keep stakeholders informed of any material developments. “We would like to bring to your attention that the recent incident during the aerial display at the Dubai Air Show is an isolated occurrence arising out of exceptional circumstances”, the company said in the exchange filing.

“We would like to assure that there is no impact on the company’s business operations, financial performance or its future deliveries. The company is extending its full support and cooperation to the agencies conducting the investigation. The company will continue to keep the stakeholders informed of any material developments”, the company further added.

HAL is deeply saddened by the loss of the courageous IAF pilot during the aerial display at the Dubai Air Show. HAL expresses its heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family. @IAF_MCC @SpokespersonMoD @DefProdnIndia https://t.co/ftizhf1lBE

— HAL (@HALHQBLR) November 21, 2025

The stocks of defence sector major Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) tanked by about 9 per cent in early trade on Monday. The Public Sector Unit’s (PSUs) stock declined as much as 8.48 per cent to Rs 4,205.25 at open on the BSE. At the time of filing this report, HAL’s stock was trading at Rs 4,452.20, down 142.80 points or 3.11 per cent.

A Tejas aircraft of the IAF crashed at the Dubai Air Show 2025 last Friday, resulting in the death of the Indian Air Force pilot Wing Commander Namansh Syal. The last rites of Wing Commander were performed on Sunday at his native village, Patialkar, in Kangra, Himachal Pradesh.

“An IAF Tejas aircraft met with an accident during an aerial display at Dubai Air Show, today. The pilot sustained fatal injuries in the accident. IAF deeply regrets the loss of life and stands firmly with the bereaved family in this time of grief. A court of inquiry is being constituted, to ascertain the cause of the accident,” the IAF said in its statement.

HAL’s Tejas aircraft is an indigenously developed, multi-role combat aircraft with a canard delta wing design, capable of air defence, reconnaissance, and strike missions.

In October this year, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated the third production line of the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas Mk1A and the second production line of Hindustan Turbo Trainer-40 (HTT-40) at the Nashik facility of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) on October 17, 2025. He also flagged-off the first LCA Mk1A produced at the facility.

In his address, the minister had described the flight of the state-of-the-art aircraft as a shining symbol of India’s growing Aatmanirbharta in defence. Highlighting the transformation of the defence sector in the last decade under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he asserted that the country, which once imported 65-70 per cent of critical military hardware, is now manufacturing 65 per cent of the equipment on its own soil.

He voiced the government’s resolve to increase domestic manufacturing to 100 per cent in the near future. (ANI)