Our Bureau
Dubai
A Tejas fighter jet of the Indian Air Force crashed during an aerial display at the Dubai Air Show on November 21, 2025, resulting in the death of the lone pilot, Wing Commander Namansh Syal. The jet went down around 2:10 pm local time while performing a low-altitude negative-G maneuver before a large crowd at Al Maktoum International Airport. The crash caused a massive fireball and thick black smoke, panic among spectators, and a temporary suspension of flight operations at the show.
Eyewitness accounts and video footage indicate the aircraft lost stability during a barrel roll maneuver and suddenly plunged into a steep vertical nose-dive at an altitude of less than 500 feet. The pilot attempted to regain control and reportedly tried to eject too late to survive. Emergency and firefighting teams responded swiftly to the scene, but the pilot sustained fatal injuries. The Indian Air Force announced the loss and expressed condolences to the pilot’s family.
A court of inquiry has been constituted by the Indian Air Force to ascertain the cause of the crash. Experts have noted the possibility of a G-force blackout contributing to the loss of control during the high-stress aerobatic maneuver.
The crash occurred on the last day of the air show, which featured over 180 aircraft and was attended by around 150,000 people. It drew significant attention to the risks inherent in complex aerial demonstrations and highlighted the bravery of military pilots performing such acts. The investigation into the precise technical or pilot-related causes is ongoing, with official findings awaited. Meanwhile, the nation mourns the loss of Wing Commander Namansh Syal, a respected officer from Himachal Pradesh.
