Defence Minister Rajnath Singh expressed profound sorrow on Friday after an Indian Air Force pilot lost his life when a Tejas Light Combat Aircraft crashed and burst into flames during an aerial display at the Dubai Air Show.
Posting on X, Singh wrote that he was “deeply pained” by the tragic loss of a brave Air Warrior, offering his heartfelt sympathies to the grieving family and affirming that the entire nation stands beside them in this dark and difficult moment.
In a formal statement, the Indian Air Force confirmed the fatal accident and announced that a detailed court of inquiry would be initiated to uncover the exact cause of the crash.
According to the IAF, the Tejas aircraft went down during a scheduled aerobatic demonstration, resulting in fatal injuries to the pilot.
The force conveyed its deep regret over the loss and reiterated its support for the pilot’s family. A thorough investigation has been launched to determine whether technical, mechanical or operational factors contributed to the tragedy.
Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan also conveyed his deep anguish, noting that all ranks of the Indian Armed Forces share the grief of the fallen officer’s family.
A message from the Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff on X echoed the sentiment, stating that the armed forces stand united in mourning the loss.
The pilot who perished in the crash was identified as Wing Commander Namansh Syal, son of Jagarnath Syal from Patialkadh in Himachal Pradesh’s Nagrota Bagwan tehsil.
Reports indicate that the HAL-manufactured Tejas fighter went down around 2:10 pm local time, as reported by AP.
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu remembered the officer as “Kangra’s valiant son,” calling the incident heartbreaking.
He saluted the pilot’s courage, exceptional dedication and unwavering service to the nation.
Former Air Marshal Sanjeev Kapoor described the incident as one that has “deeply unsettled the entire system.”
While cautioning against premature conclusions, he said that potential malfunctions — ranging from mechanical failures to issues with the fly-by-wire system — would be thoroughly examined once the flight and cockpit data recorders are analysed.
Wing Commander Syal’s death has caused an outpouring of grief nationwide. The Tejas LCA Mk-1 crashed while performing a challenging low-altitude aerobatic routine on the final day of the five-day Dubai Air Show, which commenced on November 17.
Dramatic visuals circulated online show the aircraft plunging to the ground and erupting into a massive fireball moments later.
The nation continues to honour the fallen pilot’s courage, skill and supreme sacrifice, as the investigation moves forward to determine how a display meant to showcase India’s indigenous aviation capability ended in such tragic loss.
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