Tejas crash: Kangra’s Patiyalkar village mourns loss of Wing Commander Naman Syal

KANGRA (Himachal Pradesh): A pall of grief descended on Patiyalkar village in Nagrota Bagwan tehsil of Kangra district on Friday as news spread of Wing Commander Naman Syal’s tragic death in the Tejas aircraft crash during the Dubai Air Show.

The 34-year-old Indian Air Force pilot, known for his sharp skills and adventurous flying spirit, was participating in a demonstration when the mishap occurred.

Wing Commander Syal, who hailed from the Nagrota Bagwan area, is survived by his wife (who is also an officer in the Indian Air Force), their six-year-old daughter and his parents. As the news reached his native village, relatives, neighbours and locals began gathering at his ancestral home with shock and sorrow.

#WATCH | Kangra, Himachal Pradesh | Visuals from Wing Commander Namansh Syal’s native village Patiyalkar in Kangra

He lost his life in the LCA Tejas crash in Dubai yesterday pic.twitter.com/tYnuQ5rZlJ

— ANI (@ANI) November 22, 2025

Relatives and villagers gathered in his hometown, overwhelmed with grief, upon hearing the news of the tragic incident. His uncle, Joginder Nath Syal, recalled the moment he learned of the crash, “We received information about the crash around 5 pm, when his father called me and told me to watch the news. People of the village have gathered here and all are very sad…”

Ramesh Kumar, a relative of Wing Commander Syal, shared his sadness added, “Namansh Syal’s parents are currently at the Sulur Air Force Station near Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu. His wife, who also serves in the IAF, is in Kolkata for a course. His father, Jagannath Syal, served in the Indian Army’s Medical Corps and later worked in the education department, retiring as a principal. The entire village is very sad”.

He further added, “He’s my brother-in-law… He was supposed to get a promotion. At 34, he was a squadron leader. He was a very humble man. “

Mehar Chand, a villager, said, “All of us are very sad to know about this accident. People are going to their house to show solidarity and express grief. The family is not here, but the extended family members are here. He was a brilliant child, and we are proud of him”.

Another resident, Madan, said, “We cannot accept that someone so full of life and courage is no longer with us. The entire village is sad and shattered”.

Former village pradhan Shashi Dhiman said the late officer had always made the community proud.

“Yesterday evening, my brother from Delhi told me about this unfortunate accident, and the entire village is very sad. His wife is in Chennai. His mortal remains will reach Chennai by evening. The last rites will be held here in Patiyalkar village”, Shashi Dhiman said.

Lekhraj, another villager, said, “Naman was our village’s son. He was a wing commander on a very good post. He represented our village on the national stage. His death is a huge loss not just for his family but for the whole region. The entire village is grieving”.

Visual from Wing Commander Namansh Syal’s native village, Patiyalkar in Kangra:

Looking at the nature of the Tejas aircraft crash during the Dubai Air Show 2025, defence expert Captain Anil Gaur (retd.) speculated that the incident might have occurred due to the pilot losing control or a blackout due to the g-forces induced by gravity. Captain Gaur said that the exact cause of the crash can only be determined after the data from the cockpit is retrieved.

Expressing condolences to the family of Wing Commander Naman Syal, who tragically lost his life in the crash, Captain Gaur said, “It is sad that our Tejas jet was crashed during the Dubai air show and our brave pilot lost his life. From the visuals, it seems that the jet lost control during the acrobatics, or there might have been a pilot blackout. Blackout here means the excessive gravitational force”.

“Pilots wear a G-suit so that the blood does not pool in their legs; there might have been an issue with that. What exactly happened can only be determined once the cockpit data is retrieved. I express my condolences to the family of the pilot,” he added.

Excessive G-forces can cause blood to pool in the lower body, potentially leading to a pilot blackout. The Indian Air Force announced the death of the pilot after a Tejas aircraft crashed and burst into flames at the Dubai Air Show 2025 on Friday.

The IAF said a court of inquiry is being constituted to ascertain the cause of the accident in which the pilot succumbed to fatal injuries. The plane went down while performing an aerial display before a large crowd, local media reported.

Khaleej Times reported that the fighter jet crashed into the ground soon after take-off. Photos and videos shared online show plumes of black smoke billowing into the air from the aircraft on the ground. (ANI)