Tejas crashes in Dubai, pilot dies

Only second-known peacetime incident involving India-made combat jet

- SATARUPA BHATTACHARIYA

An Indian Air Force (IAF) fighter pilot, Wing Commander Namansh Syal, died during a demonstration of the Tejas jet he was flying on the last day of this year’s Dubai Airshow on Friday.

The IAF confirmed the crash and said it regretted the loss of life.

A court of inquiry will study the incident, which the IAF has called an accident in its immediate social media post.

“An IAF Tejas aircraft met with an accident during an aerial display at the Dubai Airshow. The pilot sustained fatal injuries in the accident,” the IAF said on X. “A court of inquiry is being constituted to ascertain the cause of the accident.” Smoke appeared and an explosion was heard by the crowds in Dubai, according to Gulf News, which said that the airshow (held biennially since 1986) had temporarily halted on Friday.