Key Points:
- Tejas aircraft crashed around 2:10 pm local time during aerial display on final day of Dubai Airshow 2025
- Wing Commander Namansh Syal, 34, died as he was unable to eject before impact
- Aircraft failed to recover from negative-G maneuver at extremely low altitude, exploding in fireball near runway
- Pakistan Defense Minister Khawaja Asif expressed “deepest condolences,” saying rivalry belongs “to the skies only”
- Pilot’s father, a former Indian Army Medical Corps officer, learned about son’s death while scrolling YouTube videos
- Indian Air Force has constituted Court of Inquiry to investigate cause of second Tejas crash in program’s 23-year history
- Wing Commander Syal’s wife serves as an officer in the Indian Air Force
An Indian Air Force Light Combat Aircraft Tejas crashed in a ball of fire during the Dubai Airshow 2025 on Friday, killing the sole pilot Wing Commander Namansh Syal, 34, in the second accident in the indigenous fighter program’s 23-year history and the first to result in a fatality. The aircraft went down around 2:10 pm local time while performing a low-level aerobatic demonstration, sending plumes of smoke across the airfield as emergency teams rushed to the scene.
Eyewitness footage shows the Tejas fighter suddenly nose-diving after failing to recover from a negative-G maneuver at extremely low altitude, with the aircraft exploding upon impact near the runway. Aviation experts analyzing the crash footage suggest the pilot attempted to maneuver the aircraft to recover from the lower height to the next maneuver, but by the time the wings appeared level, the vertical speed was too great to prevent the crash. The pilot did not eject from the single-seat fighter, sustaining fatal injuries in the accident.
The tragic incident has elicited an unusually warm response from across the border, with Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif offering sincere condolences on behalf of the entire nation. In a post on social media platform X, Asif stated, “Pakistan Strategic Forum on the behalf of the whole nation offers sincere deep condolences to the Indian Air Force & to the family of the pilot of the Indian Air Force HAL LCA Tejas that crashed today at the Dubai Air Show 2025”. The minister emphasized that competition between the neighboring countries belongs “to the skies only,” adding, “Our competition is only in the air, not in hearts”.
The Pakistan Strategic Forum, an organization of defense experts from Pakistan and allied countries, also extended heartfelt condolences, noting that “an aviator’s passing is a loss to the entire aerospace community, beyond borders and beyond rivalry”. The forum’s message acknowledged that, unfortunately, the pilot was unable to eject and did not survive the crash.
Court of Inquiry Announced as Family Mourns
The Indian Air Force has announced a Court of Inquiry to determine the cause of the crash, which marks the first fatal accident involving the indigenous Tejas fighter developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. In an official statement, the IAF expressed deep regret over the loss of life and affirmed it “stands firmly with the bereaved family in this time of grief”.
Wing Commander Syal hailed from Patialakad village in Nagrota Bagwan, Himachal Pradesh, where his family has long been associated with defense services. His father served in the Indian Army’s Medical Corps, while his wife continues to serve as an officer in the Indian Air Force. In a heartbreaking detail, the pilot’s father learned about his son’s death while scrolling through YouTube videos of the Dubai Airshow, discovering the tragic news through social media before official confirmation.
The 34-year-old pilot was a decorated officer who had flown across the site during the eight-minute demonstration flight scheduled for the prestigious airshow. The crash occurred despite the Tejas being heralded as a symbol of India’s aerospace capabilities and efforts to modernize its air force.
Context and Previous Incidents
The incident follows a previous Tejas crash in March 2024 near Jaisalmer during a training sortie, though that pilot managed to eject safely. The current crash has raised questions about the aircraft’s performance during extreme maneuvers, particularly negative-G turns at low altitude, which are defining features of Tejas aerial demonstrations. Human rights organizations have previously raised concerns about military aviation safety protocols, though the investigation into Friday’s crash remains ongoing.
The crash temporarily halted aerial displays at the Dubai Airshow, though demonstrations resumed less than two hours later after emergency personnel completed scene clearance. The UAE Ministry of Defence confirmed the pilot’s death as tragic and praised the rapid response of firefighting and emergency teams.
As the Court of Inquiry begins its work, the aviation community on both sides of the India-Pakistan border mourns the loss of a fellow pilot, with Pakistan’s defense minister emphasizing that rivalry belongs only in the skies, not in hearts.
