The pilot of the Tejas fighter jet of the Indian Air Force (IAF) was killed on Friday after the indigenous multi-role Light Combat Aircraft crashed around 2:10 p.m. local time, during a demonstration at the Dubai Air Show.
The pilot has been identified as 37-year-old Wing Commander Namansh Syal, according to the ANI news agency. Syal was a resident of Patialkadh in the Kanga district of Himachal Pradesh.
This is the second crash in 20 months involving the Tejas fighter jet. On March 12, 2024, a single-engine Tejas fighter jet crashed near Jaisalmer in Rajasthan minutes after participating in a tri-services exercise.
The IAF said it 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 added.
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu paid tribute to the officer, whom he described as "a brave, dutiful, and courageous pilot."
"The news of the demise of Himachal Pradesh's Kangra district's brave son Naman Syal Ji in the Tejas aircraft accident at the Dubai Air Show is extremely heartbreaking and heart-rending. The nation has lost a brave, dutiful, and courageous pilot. I express my deepest condolences to the bereaved family members," the CM said in a post on X.
"I pay heartfelt tribute to the indomitable bravery, dedication to duty, and commitment to national service of brave son Naman Syal Ji," he added.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said he was deeply anguished at the loss of a "brave and courageous IAF pilot."
"My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family. The nation stands firmly with the family in this tragic hour," he said in a post of X.
Black smoke rose over the Al Maktoum International Airport at Dubai World Central as a crowd of spectators watched, and sirens sounded after the crash.
"A Tejas fighter aircraft from India participating in today's flying display at the Dubai Airshow has crashed, resulting in the tragic death of the pilot," Dubai's state-run media office posted on X.
The city-state’s second airport was hosting the biennial Dubai Air Show, which has seen major aircraft orders by both the long-haul carrier Emirates and its lower-cost sister airline FlyDubai.
The Tejas is an Indian single-engine, 4.5-generation, delta-wing multirole Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) developed by the Aeronautical Development Agency and produced by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for both the Indian Air Force and the Indian Navy.
The first indigenous LCA was inducted in July 2016. The first IAF Squadron to induct the Tejas was the No 45 Squadron, the 'Flying Daggers'. Forty LCA Tejas Mk 1 fighters were ordered initially, of which 36 have been inducted till now.
The IAF had ordered 83 LCA Tejas Mk 1A at a cost of Rs 46,000 crore in 2021. Once this new order is completed, along with the four aircraft of the first order, in the stipulated 15 years, the IAF will have 40 LCA, over 180 LCA Mark-1A and at least 120 LCA Mark-2 planes.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Defence on Thursday dismissed social media claims alleging an ‘oil leakage’ in the indigenously built LCA Tejas fighter jet during the Dubai Airshow, calling the circulating videos ‘fake’ and intentionally misleading.
In a statement posted on X, the Ministry said certain accounts were ‘deliberately pushing a false narrative’ to undermine the aircraft’s reliability with ‘baseless propaganda’. The controversy erupted after videos showing liquid dripping from the aircraft were shared widely, with some users claiming it signalled a malfunction.
According to Gulf News, India maintained a strong presence at the Dubai Airshow, held from November 17 to 21, showcasing a broad spectrum of its aerospace and defence capabilities. The Indian Air Force participated with performances by the Suryakiran Aerobatic Team and an exhibition of the LCA Tejas—one of the major highlights of India’s ongoing drive toward indigenous defence production.
The Indian delegation was led by Union Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth and included senior representatives from the Defence Ministry, the Department of Defence Production, the Ministry of External Affairs, and the Armed Forces.
According to the event’s official site, the Dubai Airshow serves as a global hub for investment, emerging technologies, and next-generation innovation. From the construction of some of the world’s largest airports to the debut of cutting-edge technologies, the Airshow showcases the latest trends, insights, and advancements—drawing the industry back year after year.
(With Express News Service inputs)
