Thousands of mourners, including villagers, serving and retired armed forces personnel, and local dignitaries, gathered in Patialkar village, Kangra district, on Sunday to perform the last rites of Wing Commander Namansh Syal, the Indian Air Force pilot who died when his Tejas Light Combat Aircraft crashed during an aerial display at the Dubai Airshow on November 21, 2025. As the tricolor-draped coffin was consigned to flames with full military honors, Syal’s father, Jagan Nath Syal—a retired Indian Army veteran and former school principal—fought back tears and declared the tragedy a national loss. “It is not just my personal loss; it is the nation’s loss,” he said. “Very few get the honor of serving the country the way he did.”
A distinguished alumnus of the National Defence Academy, where he was awarded the coveted Sword of Honour, Namansh Syal was remembered as an outstanding officer who excelled in every endeavor. Colleagues described him as calm, composed, and exceptionally skilled in the cockpit, having flown the aging MiG-21 for nearly nine years before transitioning to the indigenous Tejas fighter jet. His father recalled their final conversation, when Namansh lightheartedly told him to watch the Dubai performance on YouTube instead of waiting for photos. “He always excelled and never disappointed us,” Jagan Nath Syal said.
The 34-year-old pilot’s mortal remains were first received with full military honors at Sulur Air Force Station in Tamil Nadu before being flown to his ancestral village. The Indian Air Force paid rich tributes, posting, X: “A dedicated fighter pilot and thorough professional, he served the nation with unwavering commitment, exceptional skill, and an unyielding sense of duty.” Syal is survived by his wife, also an IAF officer, their six-year-old daughter, and his parents.
Also Read: Pilot’s Death in Tejas Crash Prompts Strong Response: ‘Shaken Up the Whole System’
The fatal crash during the high-profile Dubai Airshow—an event meant to showcase India’s homegrown Tejas program—has sent shockwaves through the defense community. In a gesture of respect, the United States Air Force F-16 Viper demonstration team cancelled its scheduled performance at the airshow. An official inquiry into the cause of the accident is underway, while the IAF and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited have pledged full cooperation to determine the circumstances that led to the loss of one of India’s most promising fighter pilots.
Also Read: Pilot’s Death in Tejas Crash Prompts Strong Response: ‘Shaken Up the Whole System’