HAL Tejas Crashes at Dubai Airshow; Indian Pilot Killed in Tragic Incident

IAF confirms death of Wing Commander Namansh Syal after Tejas LCA goes down during aerobatic display; inquiry launched.

The Indian Air Force has confirmed that a Tejas crash Dubai Airshow resulted in the death of the pilot. Witnesses say the fighter jet lost control during a low-altitude manoeuvre and crashed near Al Maktoum International Airport.
The pilot was identified as Wing Commander Namansh Syal, aged 37, from Kangra district in Himachal Pradesh.
According to IAF and eyewitness reports, the aircraft was performing a negative-G turn before it nosedived into the ground, bursting into flames and emitting thick black smoke.
Emergency response teams at the airshow rushed in immediately, and firefighting crews contained the blaze.
A court of inquiry has been constituted by the IAF to determine the root cause of the accident.
The IAF expressed deep sorrow over the loss. “We deeply regret the loss of life and stand firmly with the bereaved family,” the force said in a statement.
Wing Commander Syal’s death marks the first fatal Tejas crash during a high-profile international airshow.
Experts suggest the crash could have been caused by aerodynamic stress at low altitude or a possible control or engine failure, although the inquiry is ongoing.
India’s HAL-built Tejas has been central to modernising the IAF fleet, and this incident may prompt further scrutiny of aircraft performance during display flights.