IAF's Tejas fighter jet crashes during Dubai Air Show, pilot dies: Col ordered

SECOND TEJAS CRASH IN 20 MONTHS

- SIMONTINI BHATTACHARJEE

DUBAI/NEW DELHI: A fatal crash of an Indian Air Force Tejas fighter jet during an aerial display at the Dubai Air Show on Friday claimed the life of Wing Commander Namansh Syal and cast a pall over one of the world's most widely watched aviation exhibitions. The incident occurred around 2.10 pm local time during what was scheduled to be an eight-minute demonstration flight at AI Maktoum International Airport, drawing stunned reactions from thousands of spectators, foreign delegations and aviation industry officials gathered for the biennial event.

Visuals aired across multiple broadcasters showed the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft abruptly losing altitude following what appeared to be a low-level manoeuvre before nosediving into the airfield grounds and erupting into a ball of fire. Thick black smoke rose over the Dubai World Central complex as families, children and aviation enthusiasts at the grandstand watched in disbelief. Several eyewitnesses said the jet's sudden descent gave little indication of whether the pilot attempted to eject.

The IAF identified the pilot as 37-year-old Wing Commander Namansh Syal, a resident of Patialkadh in Nagrota Bagwan tehsil of Himachal Pradesh's Kangra district. His death triggered a wave of tributes from military leaders, government officials and community members both in India and the UAE. The Indian Air Force said in a statement that it "deeply regrets the loss of life and stands firmly with the bereaved family in this time of grief" and confirmed that a court of inquiry has been ordered to determine the cause of the accident. According to the force, investigators will examine flight parameters, aircraft systems, and prevailing conditions to iden tify what led to the fatal sequence.