Indian Air Force’s Tejas Mk 1 jet aircraft crashed during an air display at the Dubai Air Show 2025, killing its pilot. Built by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), this aircraft flew without any major accidents in its first service period. However, this is the second accident in 24 years.

The first incident took place on March 12, 2024, near Jaisalmer in Rajasthan, when a Tejas aircraft crashed during a tri-services exercise and the pilot ejected safely. In both the incidents, the Indian Air Force ordered investigation. In this accident, which took place at the Dubai Air Show 2025, the plane performed a negative-G maneuver shortly before losing control.

The accident happened in Jaisalmer
Initial reports of the 2024 Jaisalmer accident blamed engine trouble (engine shutdown due to oil pump failure). This time the pilot died in an accident at the Dubai Air Show. Let us tell you that this accident happened during a performance in front of the audience.

Tejas designed for export abroad
Actually, Tejas is a single-engine delta-wing light combat aircraft, which has been designed to replace the old aircraft in India’s fighter fleet and to export it abroad. The program has boasted a strong safety record, with only two accidents in more than two decades of development and service (at least as publicly acknowledged). Its role in India’s broader effort to indigenize defense manufacturing draws further public scrutiny.

There will be a court of inquiry
The Indian Air Force has announced a court of inquiry to find out the reasons for the Dubai Air Show accident. Investigators will likely examine flight-data recorder information, maneuver parameters (particularly negative-G turns), engine performance logs, and human aspects of demonstrated flight conditions. Its results may also influence future demonstration-flight protocols, training of demonstration pilots and operational safety procedures for the Tejas fleet.

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The investigation team will conduct a detailed study of every technical, operational and safety aspect of the flight so that the real reasons can be confirmed. Immediately after the plane crash, the emergency management team of the air show and local administrative units reached the spot and took charge of the situation.

H 1b visa: The US Government Shutdown, which began on 1 October, has completely stalled the H1B visa process. The biggest impact of this is on the Indian professionals who are H1B visa beneficiaries. According to data, more than 71% of Indians are Indian professionals in H1B visa holders.

The US Department of Labor releases the required LCA (Labor Condition Application) before approved any H1B visa application. But due to shutdown, the functioning of the department has stopped.

New visa cannot be released

According to immigration lawyers, if the employees have not taken LCA approval before the shutdown, then no new H1B visa can be given. Apart from this, change in the condition of visa will also not be possible. Sophie Alcorn, an immigration lawyer of Silicon Valley, said that this will have the most impact on new applications. At the same time, there will be no effect on the already ongoing matters as American citizenship and immigration services (USCIs) work on the basis of their fees and are not dependent on the Congress budget.

Employees and their families increased concern

The situation of thousands of technical staff and their families has been affected due to shutdown. The legal status of many employees depends directly on government approval. Startup companies are facing uncertainty about their employees. It also includes the founder who is on a visa himself. The process of recruitment of high skilled employees and visa renewal has stopped completely. O 1 visa people, who are given special abilities in science, art or business, are also facing similar uncertainty as the immigration process has slowed down and affected due to shutdown.

H1B visa fee increase

There is no fixed date of government shutdown. President Trump has recently announced an increase in visa fee for the new H1B visa applicants by $ 1,00,000. Along with this, a plan has been made to change the lottery system to give priority to high -paying employees. This shutdown started on 1 October at 12:01 pm local time and no end date is fixed. The last long shutdown lasted for 35 days during Trump’s tenure, which was the longest in the last four decades. Until the Congress agrees on funding, Indian professionals working in America will have to wait uncertain.

The Ministry of Defense ordered Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) on Thursday (25 September 2025) to make 97 Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) MK1A (Tejas) fighter jet for the Indian Air Force. For this, the central government signed a deal of Rs 62,370 crore with Hindustan Aeronautics, which does not include tax.

When will Tejas Mark 1A be delivered from?

These 97 LCA MK1A aircraft include 68 single seater fighter jet and 29 double seater trainer aircraft. The delivery of these aircraft will start from 2027-28 and will be completed in six years. These will use more than 64 percent indigenous goods and 67 new indigenous equipment, which is a big step towards promoting self -sufficient India initiative.

The contract has been signed by the Cabinet Committee on Security Affairs (CCS) headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, about a month after this major purchase was approved. This is the second such deal done with this government veteran company in the aerospace sector.

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited has received an order for Tejas Fighter Jet from the Ministry of Defense. In February 2021, the central government ordered HAL 83 Mark 1A. For this, a deal of Rs 46,898 crore was done, for which time till 2028 was fixed.

Mark 1A will replace MiG-21

MK-1 A with single engine will replace MiG-21 fighter jets of the Indian Air Force. The Indian Air Force wants to include these fighter aircraft as its number of fighter squadron has been officially reduced from 42 to 31. The MiG-21 aircraft will retire on 26 September 2025. It played an important role in the 1971 war, Kargil and many big missions during the 62 -year service.

HAL has recently received a third JE-404 engine for LCA-MK1A (Tejas MK1A) and is expected to get another engine soon. LCA’s MK1A version will further advance fighter avionics and air -to -air fuel.

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