Overview
- The Indian Air Force confirmed Wing Commander Namansh Syal died when an LCA Tejas crashed during a display at Al Maktoum International Airport around 2:10 pm local time on 21 November.
- Fresh, high‑clarity footage posted by WL Tan's Aviation Videos shows the jet performing low‑level manoeuvres, losing control, and a last‑second ejection attempt that did not succeed due to insufficient altitude.
- A Court of Inquiry has been initiated to determine the cause; Syal’s remains are scheduled to be flown to Kangra for a state and military funeral on Sunday.
- Syal, posted at the Hyderabad airbase, was photographed with Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth and other officials hours before the display; community and political leaders across Himachal Pradesh have expressed condolences.
- Separately, the Army reported completing ‘Operation Sindoor’ surgical eye camps led from Udhampur, screening more than 1,500 people and conducting over 2,000 procedures, a theme also echoed at a patriotic poetry session in New Delhi; Indian politicians condemned online trolling from Pakistani accounts about the crash.