An Indian Air Force (IAF) LCA Tejas fighter jet crashed during demonstrations at the Dubai Airshow 2025 on Friday, resulting in the tragic death of the pilot, the IAF said in a statement.
The HAL-manufactured aircraft nosedived during an aerial display and crashed in front of a large audience.
“An IAF Tejas aircraft met with an accident during an aerial display at the Dubai Air Show today. The pilot sustained fatal injuries in the accident,” the official IAF statement read.
The Indian Air Force said that it deeply regrets the loss of life and stands firmly with the bereaved family in this time of grief.
Furthermore, the IAF said that a court of inquiry is being constituted to ascertain the cause of the accident.
An IAF Tejas aircraft met with an accident during an aerial display at Dubai Air Show, today. 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…
— Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) November 21, 2025
The crash happened on the last day of the Dubai Airshow 2025. Videos circulating on social media showed a plane crashing at Al Maktoum International Airport and a subsequent ball of fire and smoke.
Breaking News
Indian Air Force LCA Tejas has crashed during the Dubai air show 2025. Fate of the pilot is being ascertained: Defence sources #DubaiAirShow #BreakingNews #Tejas #LCATejas #IAF #DubaiAirShow2025 #IndianAirForce #TheStatesman pic.x.com/4beYCdG5au
— The Statesman (@TheStatesmanLtd) November 21, 2025
The Dubai Airshow 2025 started on November 17 and was set to conclude today.
Pilot identified as Wing Commander Namansh Syal
The IAF pilot who died in the Tejas crash has been identified as Wing Commander Namansh Syal. He hailed from Kangra district in Himachal Pradesh.
Sharing a picture of Syal on X, Himachal CM Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu expressed his deepest condolences to the bereaved family members.
“The nation has lost a brave, dutiful, and courageous pilot. I express my deepest condolences to the bereaved family members. I pay heartfelt tribute to the indomitable bravery, dedication to duty, and commitment to national service of brave son Naman Syal Ji,” Sukhi wrote on X.
Rajnath Singh ‘deeply anguished’, Rahul Gandhi also reacts
Reacting to the incident, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said that he was deeply anguished at the loss of “a brave and courageous IAF pilot” in the crash.
“Deeply anguished at the loss of a brave and courageous IAF pilot during an aerial display in Dubai Air Show. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family. The nation stands firmly with the family in this tragic hour,” Singh wrote on X.
Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi said he was saddened by the loss of IAF pilot in Tejas crash.
“Deeply saddened by the loss of our brave IAF pilot in the Tejas crash at the Dubai Air Show. My heartfelt condolences to his family. The nation stands with them, honouring his courage and service,” Gandhi said.
This was the second such crash involving Tejas aircraft in less than two years. Earlier, the aircraft had crashed near Jaisalmer in 2024.
The Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas is an Indian single-engine, fourth-generation, multirole light fighter jet. It was designed by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) in collaboration with Aircraft Research and Design Centre (ARDC) of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the Indian Air Force and Indian Navy.
The LCA tested its maiden flight in 2001 and was officially named “Tejas” in 2003.
Tejas is considered to be the lightest multi-role supersonic aircraft of its class and can travel at a maximum speed of 2,205 km/hr for FOC version and 2,000 km/hr for IOC version.
The aircraft is capable of flying non-stop to destinations over 1700 km away with up to 500 km of Radius of Action.