New Delhi: At around 2 pm local time in Dubai on November 21st, 2025, AI Maktoum International Airport witnessed something nobody expected. The HAL-built Combat Aircraft Tejas crashed and the pride of the airshow in an instant turned into horror. The internet broke down with the video clip, and the television channel started running breaking news with bold headlines.
Confirming it, the Indian Air Force in their X handle said that India has lost an efficient Wing Commander who was the pilot of Tejas. The region’s biggest aviation show closed with grief, surprise, and shock.
Reactions of Dignitaries
The Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh wrote on his X handle
Deeply anguished by the loss of a brave and courageous IAF pilot during an aerial display in Dubai Air Show. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family. The nation stands firmly with the family in this tragic hour.”
Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan expressed the sentiment and termed it a tragic day for the armed forces of India, while acknowledging the pilot’s sacrifice for the country.
To determine the exact cause of the accident, the Indian Air Force announced the formation of a court of inquiry through a dedicated committee.
Whom we lost, Wing Commander Namansh Syal
With an excellent service record, Mr. Syal had dedication not only to his profession but also to his country. Commander Namansh Syal joined the air force in 2010, and by age 34, he was steadily rising through the ranks. Syal was posted to AFS Sulur, home to the 45th Squadron and the 18th Squadron.
The colleagues described him as “exceptionally skilled” and a glorious face of the Indian Air Force, and that he had a lot to do for the country.
Look at Tejas and the project:
The LCA Tejas is India’s push to have an indigenous defence capability. The 4.5-generation is one of the lightest fighters built for multiple defence work and especially for close combat.
The Tejas concept was thus originally started during the 1980s. And the First induction in IAF happened in 2016.India gave Almost 48000 crore order for 83 Mk-1A in 2021 and IAF aimed to operate almost 220 Tejas aircraft over the next decade. Special feature of Tejas is, it is Equipped with GE-F404 engines, advanced avionics and a **Martin-Baker zero-zero ejection seat, ensuring pilot safety even at low speed.
Past Records of Airshow Accidents
According to a report by Reuters, while airshow crashes were once disturbingly common in the 1970s, today’s strict protocols make them extremely rare: over the decades, only a few accidents have occurred at the prestigious events of Paris and Farnborough, with most pilots ejecting safely.
But such a dangerous crash had never been recorded at the Dubai Air Show. But 21st November, 2025 has changed the record.
The Tejas crash is not surprising just because of its tragedy but also for its rarity, which makes the investigation of the accident very crucial.
The Questions are waiting for the answer
The court of inquiry will probably examine several factors, including:
- Was it a technical fault?
- Was it due to supply chain-delayed components, mainly the engines?
- Were the environmental conditions the reason for the Tejas underperformance?
The Legacy Will Fly Beyond the Tragedy
The Dubai Air Show tragedy is a loss not for the Indian Air Force but for the goal of India to achieve self-reliance in defence and to become one of the strongest countries in the world. Wing Commander Namansh Syal, through his last breath, showed the world India’s engineering-with courage, dedication, and passion. His spirit now lives in every Tejas that will take to the skies. Every young pilot who dreams of flying India’s flag in the sky and every engineer who will build safer, stronger aircraft for the nation will always remember.
Also Read | Indian Air Force’s Thrilling Flying Display Dazzles Guwahati
