'F-16, MiG-23 and more': 7 fighter jets apart from HAL Tejas that have crashed during airshows
On 6 September 1952 the DH.110 prototype disintegrated mid-air at the Farnborough Airshow during a high-speed manoeuvre, killing both crew and 29 spectators.
1. HAL Tejas (India) — Dubai Air Show 2025
On 21 November 2025 at the Dubai Air Show 2025, an Indian Tejas light-combat aircraft crashed during a demonstration flight, killing the pilot. The aircraft was performing low-altitude aerobatics; a court of inquiry has been ordered.
2. F‑16 Fighting Falcon (Poland) — Radom Air Show 2025
In August 2025 a Polish Air Force F-16 crashed during a rehearsal for the Radom Air Show 2025. The pilot died and the display was cancelled. The crash occurred after a low-altitude aerobatic manoeuvre.
3. de Havilland DH.110 (UK) — Farnborough Airshow 1952
On 6 September 1952 the DH.110 prototype disintegrated mid-air at the Farnborough Airshow during a high-speed manoeuvre, killing both crew and 29 spectators.
4. Sukhoi Su‑27UB (Ukraine) — Sknyliv Air Show 2002
On 27 July 2002 at the Sknyliv Air Show in Ukraine, a Su-27UB crashed into the crowd after an aerobatic display, killing 77 and injuring hundreds.
5. Hawker Hunter T7 (UK) — Shoreham Airshow 2015
On 22 August 2015 the vintage Hunter T7 crashed during the Shoreham Airshow while attempting a loop manoeuvre from a low altitude. Eleven people on the ground died; the pilot survived.
MiG‑23UB (USA) — Ypsilanti Air Show 21st Century
On 13 August (year not specified) a MiG-23UB crashed at an air‐show in Ypsilanti, Michigan, USA. Both pilots ejected safely.
7. F/A‑18 Hornet (Spain) — Zaragoza Air Show (date unspecified)
At a display event at Zaragoza Air Base, a Spanish Air Force EF-18A Hornet crashed during a solo demonstration, the pilot safely ejected.
Why This Matters
- These examples show that even highly capable jets crash during air-show or display flying.
- Many incidents stem from low altitude + high-risk manoeuvres where recovery margin is minimal.
- They underscore the importance of strict display limits, pilot training, aircraft readiness and crowd-safety protocols.
- For your coverage of Tejas, this global context helps broaden the angle from “Indian crash” to “air-show demonstration risk”.
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