Dubai/New Delhi: A video and some images that emerged from Dubai Airshow suggesting an oil leak from the Indian Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas kept social media hot on Thursday. The Indian Air Force (IAF) participated in the event with the Suryakiran Aerobatic Team and LCA Tejas. Videos circulating online showed bags placed under the aircraft on the tarmac to catch fluid, leading to speculation of an oil leak. Users expressed concerns, with one claiming, “Tejas leaking oil at Dubai Airshow reflects poorly on the IAF.”
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However, the government has categorically dismissed these claims. The Press Information Bureau (PIB) fact-check unit called the allegations “fake” and clarified that the videos show a routine, intentional draining of condensed water from the aircraft’s Environmental Control System (ECS) and On-Board Oxygen Generating System (OBOGS), a standard procedure for aircraft operating in humid environments like Dubai. The Ministry of Defence stated, “Several propaganda accounts are circulating videos claiming that at the Dubai Airshow 2025, the Indian LCA Tejas Mk1 suffered an oil leakage… These claims are #Fake.”
The PIB further emphasized that this false narrative is being deliberately pushed to undermine the fighter’s proven technical reliability with baseless propaganda. Citizens have been urged to verify information before sharing it. This incident highlights how an operational procedure was misrepresented, sparking online controversy despite no technical issues with the aircraft.
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