Dubai Airshow Continues Despite Tejas Crash, Organizers Face Questions

New Delhi: The Dubai Airshow was held from November 17th to 21st. Air forces from 115 countries participated. However, the final day, November 21st, marked a deep wound in history. During the airshow, an Indian Air Force Tejas aircraft crashed. Wing Commander Namansh Syal died in the accident. Despite this, the Dubai Airshow continued. People are questioning the organizers’ decision not to cancel it. However, the United States and Russia made the decision in honor of Wing Commander Namansh.

The US F-16 Demo Team canceled its final demonstration at the Dubai Airshow on November 21st. F-16 team pilot Captain Taylor Hiester expressed surprise that the show was not canceled despite the tragic incident. Hiester said that his team was preparing for the show when the accident occurred. Despite the tragedy, the event wasn’t canceled, but the American team and several others decided to cancel their performances out of respect for the pilot, his colleagues, and his family.

Captain Heister shared his feelings on social media while flying home. He also criticized the organizers for continuing the show. In an emotional post on his Instagram account, Heister wrote that the decision to continue the flying event was shocking. “I thought the show would be closed after we left, but the announcers were still enthusiastic two hours later. The crowd also watched the airshow with enthusiasm.” Heister said the moment was uneasy for him. “I was shaken by the fact that no matter what the form, no matter what the ‘rockstar treatment,’ no matter what the lavish dinner, and no matter what the sponsor chelets, my team, which had become my family, came first for me.”

On the other hand, Russia’s Russian Knights aerobatic team paid emotional tribute to him with a spectacular display of Su-35 fighter jets. The team described it as a special tribute to the Indian pilot. Wing Commander Namnash Syal, a resident of Kangra district in Himachal Pradesh, was cremated with full military honors on November 23 in his native village, Patialakad.

Wing Commander Syal was performing low-level aerobatic maneuvers on the final day of the air show when the Tejas aircraft suddenly crashed into the ground and caught fire. Syal leaves behind his wife, Wing Commander Afshan Akhtar, a six-year-old daughter, and his parents. This was the second accident involving this Indian-made single-engine fighter aircraft since its induction into the Air Force in July 2016.