The IAF has identified Wg Cdr Naman Syal as the pilot who died when a Tejas fighter jet crashed during a display at the Dubai Air Show. His home state has mourned the loss, and a court of inquiry will probe what led to the tragedy.
Dubai: Smoke rises from the crash site after an Indian Air Force Tejas aircraft met with an accident during an aerial display at the Dubai Air Show. The pilot, Wg Cdr Naman Syal, sustained fatal injuries. The IAF has ordered a court of inquiry to determine the cause of the crash. (Pic: IANS)
The Indian Air Force has confirmed that the pilot who lost his life after a Tejas fighter aircraft went down during a demonstration at the Dubai Air Show on Friday was Wg Cdr Naman Syal. The accident occurred during an aerial display at one of the world’s largest aviation events, which has drawn major global participation this week.
Meanwhile, in an official statement, the Indian Air Force said, “IAF deeply regrets the loss of life and stands firmly with the bereaved family in this time of grief.”
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A court of inquiry has been ordered to determine the cause of the crash.
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Wg Cdr Syal belonged to Himachal Pradesh’s Kangra district. News of his death has left his home state in deep shock.
Reacting to the development, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said the crash had claimed “the brave son of Kangra district, Himachal Pradesh”.
“The news is profoundly saddening and heartbreaking. The nation has lost a courageous, dutiful, and valiant pilot. I extend my deepest condolences to the bereaved family. I bow with heartfelt reverence to the indomitable bravery, dedication, and commitment to national service of the valiant son, Shri Naman Syal,” he wrote on X.
Meanwhile, speaking to news agency ANI, his uncle Joginder Nath Sayal said, “I got a call from my brother around 3 pm, and he told me about the crash… He was my brother’s son. He got married in 2014 and has a daughter…”
Another relative, Ramesh Kumar, also expressed the family’s shock. “He’s my brother-in-law… He was supposed to get a promotion. At 34, he was a squadron leader. He was a very humble man. The entire village is sad,” he said.
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), the manufacturer of the Tejas light combat aircraft, said it was “deeply saddened” by the incident. “HAL expresses its heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family,” the company said.
Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat also responded to the incident, saying, “This is unfortunate. It is a matter of investigation. No comments can be made until the complete investigation.”
This marks the second crash involving a Tejas aircraft, the first having occurred near Jaisalmer in 2024.
LCA Tejas: All about India’s first indigenously-developed fighter jet
The tragedy unfolded during a week in which India was showcasing its indigenous aviation capabilities at the Dubai Air Show. On November 19, India and Germany renewed their high-tech defence partnership after nearly three decades, marked by a major contract between HAL and the German state-supported sensor firm HENSOLDT.
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