Video of Wing Commander Namansh Syal at Dubai Airshow before fatal Tejas crash surfaces

Wing Commander Namansh Syal died when the Tejas jet that he was flying plunged on the ground, bursting into flames and smoke at Dubai Airshow.

Updated on: Nov 22, 2025, 11:58:25 IST

By HT News Desk

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

A video of Indian Air Force pilot Wing Commander Namansh Syal - who died when the Tejas LCA Mk-1 crashed at the Dubai Airshow on Friday - has surfaced, showing him at the event with other dignitaries before the tragic crash took his life.

Deceased IAF pilot Namansh Syal (third from left) posing for a photo at Dubai Airshow before the tragic crash. (X/@manaman_chhina)

Also read: 'Can't skip duty for flight': Jagdeep Dhankhar in first speech after surprise resignation

He is seen in the video with Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth, India's Envoy to the UAE, Deepak Mittal, and Additional Secretary (Gulf) in the Ministry of External Affairs, Aseem R Mahajan. It is not known when the video was taken during the Airshow which started on November 17 and was scheduled to conclude on November 21.

Also read: Mahagathbandhan likely to move court against Bihar poll verdict

Wing Commander Syal, 37, died on Friday after the Tejas jet plunged on the ground, bursting into flames and smoke when he was performing a low-level aerobatic manoeuvre on the final day of the airshow.

The video, which is making rounds on social media, shows the IAF pilot smiling as he poses for photograph with his colleagues, ministers from India and other dignitaries from UAE.

Watch video here

Grief in Wing Commander Syal's village

The IAF pilot's death on the day of the five-day airshow in Dubai, which began on November 17, cast a pall of gloom over his village in Himachal Pradesh's Kangra. As the news reached his native village, relatives, neighbours and locals began gathering at his ancestral home with shock and sorrow.

Also read: ‘Fascist’ vs ‘jihadist’: Old remarks brought up in cordial Trump-Mamdani meet | See key moments

He is survived by wife, who is also an IAF officer, a six-year-old daughter and parents.

While the IAF has said a court of inquiry is being constituted to ascertain the cause of the accident, defence expert Captain Anil Gaur (Retd.) told ANI that the incident might have occurred due to the pilot losing control or a blackout due to the g-forces induced by gravity. He said the exact cause of the crash can only be determined after the data from the cockpit is retrieved.

Also read: Gratuity eligibility to minimum wages: Key highlights from four labour codes

Terming the IAF pilot's death as sad, Air Marshal Sanjeev Kapoor (Retd) said the incident has "shaken up the whole system" and said that a court of inquiry will investigate possible mechanical or technical causes.

“The ill-fated Tejas crash a little while ago in Dubai has actually shaken up the whole system... The reasons could be mechanical. The reason could be the malfunction of fly-by-wire or any control surface… The FDR and CVR would be extracted... At this stage, to speculate and to say what could have gone wrong is incorrect, and to have lost a brother in arms is very sad,” he was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
HT News Desk
Follow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs. The HT News Desk covers politics, elections, government policies, the economy, business and markets, science and technology, the environment, law and order, infrastructure, education, climate issues and geopolitics, while closely tracking developments across states, institutions and global capitals. The team also leads coverage of major breaking news events, policy announcements, court proceedings, natural disasters, public emergencies and significant international developments. Reports published by the newsdesk are based on information gathered from reporters on the ground, official statements, government agencies, court records, regulatory filings, recognised institutions and other authoritative sources. Stories undergo editorial scrutiny and verification processes to ensure accuracy, fairness and relevance, and are updated as events evolve and additional information becomes available. Whether covering a key political decision in New Delhi, an economic policy shift affecting millions, a landmark court ruling or a major global event, the HT News Desk aims to provide readers with reliable, fact-based journalism that delivers not only the latest developments but also the context and analysis needed to understand their wider implications.Read More

Follow India news real-time updates and the latest news covered on Hindustan Times, featuring today's critical updates on Sonam Wangchuk LIVE and more across India.