The Indian Air Force on Saturday paid tribute to Wing Commander Namansh Syal, sharing a video of his send-off ceremony on X and expressing grief over the loss of the air warrior who had made an unwavering contribution to the force. Commander Syal lost his life in the Dubai airshow tragedy on Friday, after the Tejas jet he was piloting crashed during a display.“A dedicated fighter pilot and thorough professional, who served the nation with unwavering commitment, exceptional skill and an unyielding sense of duty,” wrote IAF.showed uniformed personnel paying their respects, while officials laid wreaths beside a tricolour-wrapped casket bearing Wing Commander Syal’s mortal remains.In the tribute note, the air force also highlighted his professional qualities, saying, “His dignified persona earned him immense respect through a life devoted to service, and was visible in the send-off attended by UAE Officials, colleagues, friends, and the officials of the Indian Embassy”Footage from the Dubai Air Show captured the moment the Tejas aircraft suddenly lost altitude during a low-level manoeuvre before crashing at Al Maktoum International Airport. The jet exploded on impact, resulting in a massive fireball.Friday’s accident marked the second crash involving the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas in less than two years. In March 2024, another Tejas went down near a residential area in Jaisalmer after returning from the tri-services exercise Bharat Shakti in the Pokhran desert. That incident was the first recorded crash of the aircraft since its induction into service in 2001.
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