An Indian Air Force pilot, Wing Commander Namansh Syal, died on Friday after a Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA Mk-1) crashed during a demonstration at the Dubai Air Show. The 37-year-old officer was performing a low-level aerobatic move on the final day of the event when the jet went down.
The IAF confirmed the incident, stating: “An IAF Tejas aircraft met with an accident during an aerial display at the Dubai airshow. The pilot sustained fatal injuries in the accident. IAF deeply regrets the loss of life and stands firmly with the bereaved family in this time of grief. A court of inquiry is being constituted to ascertain the cause of the accident.”
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This is the second Tejas crash since its induction into the IAF in 2016.
Who was Wing Commander Namansh Syal?
Namansh Syal, 37, was from Kangra district in Himachal Pradesh. He is survived by his wife, an IAF officer, their six-year-old daughter, and his parents. He was commissioned into the Air Force on 24 December 2009.
A relative told Hindustan Times that his parents were at the Sulur Air Force Station in Tamil Nadu, while his wife was in Kolkata for a course. His father, Jagannath Syal, had served in the Army’s medical corps and later retired as a school principal.
Himachal Pradesh reacts
The news shocked the state. Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu posted a tribute on X (formerly Twitter) , calling him “a brave, dutiful, and courageous pilot.”
He wrote expressing his condolences to his family, “The news of the demise of Himachal Pradesh's Kangra district's brave son Naman Syal Ji in the Tejas aircraft accident at the Dubai Air Show is extremely heartbreaking and heart-rending.”
Former CM Jairam Thakur also described the incident as “extremely heartbreaking.”
IAF also paid tribute on X, "The Indian Air Force deeply mourns the tragic loss of Wg Cdr Namansh Syal, who lost his life in the unfortunate Tejas aircraft accident at the Dubai Air Show."
It added, "A dedicated fighter pilot and thorough professional, he served the nation with unwavering commitment, exceptional skill and an unyielding sense of duty."
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Accident at the Dubai Airshow
The crash occurred during a routine aerobatic display at one of the world’s largest aviation exhibitions, where over 150 countries are participating. Visuals from the final day showed the Tejas suddenly nose-dive and explode into a fireball.
A court of inquiry is now investigating the cause.
This comes months after another Tejas crashed near Jaisalmer in March 2024 during a training sortie, where the pilot had safely ejected. Efforts are now underway to understand what led to Friday’s tragic accident.
