ISLAMABAD: Tragedy unfolded at the Dubai Airshow on Friday as an Indian AirForce Tejas fighter jet crashed during an aerobatic display, claiming thelife of its pilot, Wing Commander Namansh Syal. The incident, occurring at2:10 pm local time at Al Maktoum International Airport, sent plumes ofblack smoke billowing across the airfield, shocking spectators on theevent’s final day. The HAL-built aircraft, a symbol of India’s indigenousdefence ambitions, nosedived mid-maneuver, erupting into a fireball uponimpact.
The Indian Air Force swiftly confirmed the pilot’s death, expressingprofound grief and solidarity with the bereaved family. A court of inquiryhas been ordered to probe the crash’s causes, amid speculation linking itto a recent viral video showing apparent fuel leakage from the jet’s tankduring rehearsals. Defence experts described the event as unfortunate butemphasized that such accidents, though rare, underscore the risks ofhigh-stakes demonstrations. Emergency crews contained the blaze rapidly,allowing the show to resume within 90 minutes.
Public outrage erupted across Indian social media platforms, with userslambasting the air force for perceived lapses in maintenance and oversight.Prominent voices, including Anoushka Tiwari on X, decried the crash as ahumiliating spectacle on the global stage, demanding the immediateresignation of Air Chief. “This is an insult to India before the world; theIAF chief must step down now,” Tiwari posted, echoing sentiments fromthousands who questioned the Tejas program’s reliability despite its rolein modernizing India’s fleet.
The backlash intensifies scrutiny on the Tejas, the second crash in its24-year history, as India plans to induct over 220 units to bolstersquadrons depleted by MiG-21 retirements. Critics argue the incidentexposes deeper systemic issues, fueling calls for transparency and reforms.While officials dismissed pre-crash leak videos as routine condensation,the tragedy has reignited debates on indigenous aviation’s readinessagainst regional rivals like Pakistan’s bolstered capabilities.
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As investigations unfold, the loss reverberates beyond Dubai, highlightingthe human cost of military innovation. Families and analysts await answers,hoping for measures to prevent future heartbreaks in pursuit of aerialsupremacy.
Source:www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/11/21/indias-home-built-fighter-jet-tejas-crashes-at-dubai-air-show-pilot-dies”>https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/11/21/indias-home-built-fighter-jet-tejas-crashes-at-dubai-air-show-pilot-diesid=”eec3d9″ cardtype=”citationcard” type=”renderinlinecitation”>id”>0 Source:https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/air-disaster-indian-fighter-jet-tejas-crashes-in-dubai-fate-of-pilot-unknown/articleshow/125484087.cmsid=”4a6d4f” cardtype=”citationcard” type=”renderinlinecitation”>id”>2