Sign In
By signing in or creating an account, you agree with Associated Broadcasting Company's Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.
By signing in or creating an account, you agree with Associated Broadcasting Company's Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.
New Delhi: A Tejas light combat aircraft (LCA Mk-1) crashed on Friday during at the Dubai Air Show on the event's final day. The crash killed an Indian Air Force pilot who has been identified as Wing Commander Namansh Syal.
The crash took place during a demonstration at the Dubai Air Show at around 2:10 pm and the pilot unfortunately died in the crash. The IAF said in a post on X that the "aircraft met with an accident during an aerial display at Dubai Air Show, today. The pilot sustained fatal injuries in the accident. IAF deeply regrets the loss of life and stands firmly with the bereaved family in this time of grief." It is constituting a court inquiry to find the cause of the crash.
Aviation experts have reportedly opined that the jet was probably executing a barrel roll, a standard manoeuvre that needs precise judgement, speed, and altitude. According to early assessments, the aircraft was possibly too low or lacked sufficient speed to recover from the inversion, leaving no margin for correction.
Namansh Syal hailed from Himachal Pradesh, and Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu took to X to share his condolences. He wrote, "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. I pay heartfelt tribute to the indomitable bravery, dedication to duty, and commitment to national service of brave son Naman Syal Ji."
The Tejas was performing aerobatics at the Dubai show, but a misjudged manoeuvre by the aircrew caused the mishap to occur. This is the second Tejas crash recorded, as earlier, a single-engine Tejas crashed near Jaisalmer in Rajasthan on March 12, 2024, during an operation. In that accident, the pilot ejected safely.
