We report direct evidence of enhanced spontaneous emission in a photonic-crystal (PhC) light-emitting diode. The device consists of p-i-n heterojunction embedded in a suspended membrane, comprising a layer of self-assembled quantum dots. Current is injected laterally from the periphery to the center of the PhC. A well-isolated emission peak at 1.3 mu m from the PhC cavity mode is observed, and the enhancement of the spontaneous emission rate is clearly evidenced by time-resolved electroluminescence measurements, showing that our diode switches off in a time shorter than the bulk radiative and nonradiative lifetimes. (C) 2008 American Institute of Physics.