NEW DELHI(National times)- The Indian media once again attempted to deflect blame for a recent Tejas aircraft crash by attributing the incident to the American-made engine, instead of acknowledging domestic shortcomings. General (retd) Bakhshi and Indian journalist Arnab Goswami repeatedly claimed that the crash was linked to the US-supplied engine, portraying it as the root cause while downplaying India’s own defence issues. Goswami alleged that delays in the delivery of GE-404 engines by the United States had created a dangerous gap in India’s defence preparedness. He said the Tejas fighter jet operates on US-made General Electric engines, insisting that “General Electric has never been a friend to India.” He further claimed that the US government had intentionally slowed deliveries of next-generation engines for the Tejas programme.

Watch: Indian Tejas jet goes down at Dubai Airshow, pilot killed

Gen Bakhshi echoed these accusations, stating India should have received the GE-404 engines two years earlier despite having paid $1 billion. He asserted that India had received only two engines to date and warned that tensions could flare up again at any time. Critics argue that such narratives by the Indian government and its supportive media not only damage credibility but also distract the public from genuine defence and governance issues. A day earlier, a dramatic crash occurred at the Dubai Airshow when an Indian Air Force Tejas fighter jet went down during an aerobatic display, killing the pilot. According to Indian media reports, the jet, which was showcasing its capabilities, experienced a technical malfunction mid-flight.