Dubai Airshow Tejas Crash Sparks Pay and Morale Debate

On the Dubai Airshow in November 2025, a Tejas LCA crashed, killing Wing Commander Namansh Syal. Shortly after, a newspaper advertisement offering a very low monthly training stipend of under $390 (≈₹35,000) for fighter-pilot candidates circulated online. The ad went viral on social media and was linked to claims that Tejas pilots are underpaid, potentially affecting morale and performance. Critics and opposition figures are demanding a parliamentary inquiry, citing anonymous online testimonies alleging unequal allowances between pilots of indigenous Tejas and imported Rafale aircraft. Defence analysts say the issue highlights a broader morale and policy problem, not just the crash itself. The official inquiry into the crash is ongoing, with no confirmed cause yet. Public debate has shifted from technical causes of the crash to how India values and compensates its fighter pilots. Correction: The cause of the crash has not been established; the inquiry remains ongoing.