New Delhi: Wing Commander Namansh Syal, the Indian Air Force (IAF) fighter pilot who died in the Tejas crash at the Dubai Air Show, grew up far from airfields or global exhibitions.
Born in Patialakad, a village in Nagrota Bagwan tehsil of Himachal Pradesh’s Kangra district, his journey from a small Himalayan settlement to the cockpit of India’s indigenous Light Combat Aircraft was marked by quiet ambition, discipline and a long-standing connection to the armed forces.
Syal came from a family with a defence background. His father, Jagan Nath Syal, served in the Army Medical Corps before retiring and later working as a school principal.
After completing his schooling, Syal joined the IAF and was commissioned on 24 December 2009. Over the course of his 16-year career, he served as a fighter pilot and was closely associated with the Tejas.
We are deeply saddened by the loss of Wg Cdr Namansh Syal, the courageous Tejas pilot who tragically lost his life on 21 November 2025. His passing leaves a void that can never be filled. He dedicated his life to flying and to his nation, and he left us doing what he loved most. pic.twitter.com/3tKZvZkOgj
— Suryakiran Aerobatic Team (@Suryakiran_IAF) November 22, 2025
He was a part of No. 45 Squadron, known as the ‘Flying Daggers,’ based at the Sulur Air Base in Tamil Nadu. The squadron has been one of the main units operating the Tejas since the aircraft entered service.
The Tejas Mk-1 fighter jet crashed during a routine aerobatic display on Friday at the Dubai Air Show, one of the world’s largest aviation events featuring participants from more than 150 countries.
Wing Commander Syal was carrying out a low-altitude aerobatic move on the final day of the event when the aircraft lost control and hit the ground, a video of which has now gone viral on social media.
This was the second accident involving the homegrown Tejas fighter jet since it entered operational service in 2016.
The IAF confirmed the accident in a statement, mentioning that the pilot sustained fatal injuries. “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,” it read.
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu expressed grief over the pilot’s death, describing it as “extremely heartbreaking and heart-rending.”
In a post on X, Sukhu said the country had lost “a brave, dutiful, and courageous pilot,” and offered his condolences to the officer’s family. “I pay heartfelt tribute to the indomitable bravery, dedication to duty, and commitment to national service of brave son Naman Syal Ji,” his post read.
Ramesh Kumar, a relative of the IAF pilot, said Syal’s parents were at the Sulur Air Force Station near Coimbatore, a major base for the Tejas, when the incident occurred.
His wife, who also serves in the IAF, was in Kolkata attending a professional course at the time. The couple have a six-year-old daughter.
Back at his village, relatives, neighbours and locals reached the family’s house. “Yesterday evening, my brother from Delhi told me about this unfortunate accident, and the entire village is very sad. His wife is in Chennai. His mortal remains will reach Chennai by evening. The last rites will be held here in Patiyalkar village,” former village pradhan Shashi Dhiman told ANI.
“People are going to their house to show solidarity and express grief. The family is not here, but the extended family members are here. He was a brilliant child, and we are proud of him,” Mehar Chand, another villager, said.
(Edited by Tony Rai)
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