Tejas Jet Crash Video Suggests Pilot Tried To Eject Last Minute
New Delhi : A new video of the crash of the ill-fated Indian Air Force’s Tejas fighter jet in Dubai provides a crystal clear view of the final moments of the pilot. The Tejas jet was executing a low-altitude aerobatic manoeuvre when it went down at the Dubai Airshow, erupting into a massive fireball as soon as it thudded to the ground. Several videos on social media showed large plumes of black smoke emanating from the crash site.
The new video gives a clear picture of what transpired in the final seconds. At the 49-52 second timestamp, just as the aircraft erupts into flames, a parachute-like object is visible. It suggests that the pilot tried to eject, but it was too late. It could have been due to the pilot attempting to regain control and save the aircraft, which has a near-spotless safety record. In fact, this was the first fatality linked to the Tejas, India’s first home-grown lightweight multi-role fighter jet, in its 10 years of service. A Tejas crashed near Jaisalmer in March last year.
The pilot had managed to eject safely then. The new video, supposedly captured by a spectator at the air show, shows the Tejas jet performing a manoeuvre known as a barrel roll, in which the jet turns over and then back up again. Just before going down, the jet was executing a negative-G turn. However, at this moment, the jet was flying at a very low altitude.
The jet went lower and lower before crashing to the ground. Aviation experts said there was no room for a post-loop manoeuvre to stabilise the fighter jet to gain altitude. However, the exact reason behind the crash will be known after an inquiry. The IAF has constituted a court of inquiry to ascertain the cause of the tragedy.
Read More : IAF Tejas Fighter Jet Crashes At Dubai Air Show, Pilot Killed In Tragic Accident