Overview
- Wing Commander Namansh Syal, 34, was cremated with full military honours in Patialkar village in Kangra, Himachal Pradesh, as large crowds and officials paid their respects.
- His wife, Wing Commander Afshan Akhtar, offered a tearful final salute during the last rites, with the IAF remembering him as a dedicated fighter pilot and thorough professional.
- The IAF repatriated his remains to India, with wreath‑laying ceremonies at Southern Air Command in Thiruvananthapuram and at Sulur Air Force Station before the final journey to Himachal.
- A court of inquiry is investigating the Tejas LCA Mk‑1 crash during a low‑altitude negative‑G manoeuvre at the Dubai Airshow, the second major Tejas loss reported since induction.
- International reactions varied, with the US F‑16 Viper demo team cancelling its performance and criticising the decision to continue the show, while Russia’s Russian Knights dedicated a tribute to Syal.