Tejas fighter jet crash: Father of IAF pilot Namansh Syal was scrolling videos of Dubai Airshow on YouTube when he learned about son's death

Jagan Nath Syal, the father of Wing Commander Namansh Syal who died in the Tejas fighter jet crash at Dubai Air Show Friday, was scrolling through YouTube when he came across the news of Tejas jet crash. In a tragic twist, the 71-year-old Jagan Nath Syal was searching for videos of his son's aerial acrobatics at the air show when news reports of the crash popped up on his screen, leaving him in disbelief. Speaking to TOI over phone from Sulur, the grief-stricken father said, "Then, officers from my son's squadron arrived to convey the tragic news."

Jagan Nath Syal is a retired school principal from Kangra in Himachal Pradesh. The teary-eyed father recalled that his pilot son had asked him to check his performance at the air show on television and YouTube. And when he was scrolling videos of the air show on YouTube when he saw reports on the fatal Tejas crash at the Dubai Air show, according to the Indian Express.

“I last spoke to my son yesterday. He told me to see his performance during the air show on TV channels or YouTube. Around 4 pm today, I was searching videos of the ongoing air show in Dubai on YouTube when I saw reports about the plane crash. Immediately, I called my daughter-in-law, who is also a Wing Commander, to check what happened. Moments later, at least six Air Force officers arrived at our house and I realised something bad happened to my son,” Jagan Syal told The Indian Express.


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Namansh Syal's wife was on training course

According to a TOI report, when the family got the tragic news, Namansh's wife, Wing Commander Afshan, was in Kolkata on a training course. Their six-year-old daughter was with her grandparents in Sulur, where Namansh was serving with No. 3 Squadron.

“Naman joined the defence forces after clearing the NDA exam in 2009. He completed his schooling from Primary School Dalhousie, Army Public School, YoL Cantt Dharamshala and Sainik School, Sujanpur Tira, in Himachal Pradesh. He was excellent in studies and dreamt big about his life. This incident left us completely shattered,” said the grieving father.

Naman’s mother Veena was not in a state to talk, he said. “I asked officers who came to inform me about… when his body will be brought back. They didn’t give a definite time, but hinted two days will be taken in the process.”

Who was Wing Commander Namansh Syal?

A pall of gloom descended on Himachal Pradesh's Patialakad village in Nagrota Bagwan after Wing Commander Namansh Syal, 34, of the Indian Air Force, was martyred when an IAF Tejas fighter jet crashed in the United Arab Emirates on Friday while taking part in the Dubai Airshow 2025. The indigenous aircraft went down during a practice and demonstration flight at the prestigious event in the afternoon local time.

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Wing Commander Syal, a resident of Nagrota Bagwan, was known for his discipline and exceptional service record. He did his schooling at Sainik School, Sujanpur Tira, in Hamirpur district. He is survived by his aged parents, his wife — an Indian Air Force officer — and their six-year-old daughter.

The high-achiever was an inspiration for hundreds not only in his hometown but also his alma mater, Sainik School Sujanpur Tira in Hamirpur district, and NDA. The school held a remembrance meet Saturday. He was part of the school's 21st batch, passing out in 2005.

Expressing his condolences over the demise of Wing Commander Naman, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu posted on X, “The news of the tragic death of Himachal Pradesh’s Kangra district’s brave son, Naman Syal ji, in the Tejas aircraft accident at the Dubai Air Show is extremely saddening and heartbreaking. The nation has lost a courageous, dutiful, and valiant pilot… I bow to the indomitable bravery, sense of duty, and dedication to national service of the brave son…”

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Deputy Commissioner, Kangra, Hemraj Bairwa, told The Express, “SDM Nagrota Bagwan Ashish Sharma is in contact with the family of the fighter pilot. We figured out the address of the family of Naman Syal, native of Patialkad village at Nagrota Bagwan, when news spread about his death.

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has condoled the death of "Kangra's brave son" as heartbreaking. The nation lost a courageous and valiant pilot, he said, bowing to his "indomitable bravery" and "dedication to national service." Kangra Deputy Commissioner Hemraj Bairwa is in contact with the Syal family.

(With inputs from TOI)