Tragic Discovery: IAF Pilot's Father Learns of Son's Tejas Crash While Searching for Air Show Videos

The father of Wing Commander Namansh Syal discovered his son's tragic death through YouTube videos. The IAF pilot perished when his Tejas fighter jet crashed during the Dubai Air Show, erupting into flames. The Indian Air Force has officially confirmed the fatality.

Jagan Nath Syal, a retired school principal from Kangra, Himachal Pradesh, was browsing YouTube for footage of the air show when he encountered news reports of the crash, according to The Indian Express.

The father recalled that his son had encouraged him to watch his performance at the air show on television and YouTube. While viewing videos of the event, he stumbled upon reports about the crash.

He immediately contacted his daughter-in-law, who serves as a Wing Commander in the Air Force. Shortly thereafter, Air Force officers arrived at their residence, leading Syal to realize that "something bad" had befallen his son. The officers indicated that repatriation of his son's remains to India might take approximately two days.

Namansh was described as an exceptional student with ambitious goals. He attended Army Public School and Sainik School in Himachal Pradesh before passing the NDA examination in 2009 and joining the defense forces.

The 34-year-old pilot's death has devastated the family completely, his father expressed.

At the time of the incident, Namansh's wife was undergoing training in Kolkata, while his parents—Jagan Nath and Veena Syal—had traveled from their village of Patial Kad in Kangra to Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu approximately two weeks earlier to care for their seven-year-old granddaughter, Aarya. The pilot's mother was too distraught to speak.

A relative informed news agency ANI that the entire village is mourning the pilot's death.

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu expressed condolences, describing the death of "Kangra's brave son" as heartbreaking. He stated that the nation had lost a courageous and valiant pilot, honoring his "indomitable bravery" and "dedication to national service." Kangra Deputy Commissioner Hemraj Bairwa is maintaining contact with the Syal family.