New Delhi:
Wing Commander Namansh Syal, a 34-year-old Indian Air Force pilot, tragically lost his life after a Tejas Light Combat Aircraft crashed during a flying demonstration at the Dubai Air Show on Friday. The single-seat LCA, developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), went down around 2:10 pm local time, erupting into a ball of fire moments after a low-altitude manoeuvre.
A native of Patiyalkar village in Kangra, Himachal Pradesh, Syal is survived by his wife—also an IAF officer—their six-year-old daughter, and his parents. He completed his schooling at Sainik School Sujanpur Tira and was serving as a squadron leader, due for promotion soon.
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu expressed deep grief, calling it a “heartbreaking loss of a brave and dutiful pilot.”
Initial visuals suggest the aircraft failed to recover from a negative-G manoeuvre, leaving no time for ejection. The exact cause of the crash is under investigation.
HAL, the manufacturer of Tejas, said it was “deeply saddened” by the loss and extended condolences to the family. This is the second crash involving a Tejas aircraft in 20 months; the earlier incident in Jaisalmer saw the pilot eject safely.
The Tejas project, formally cleared for flight in 2011 and inducted into the IAF in 2016, remains a key part of India’s defence aviation programme, with major orders placed in recent years.
