Picture Credit : @ani_digital/X
For the people of Patiyalkar, a sleepy village in Himachal Pradesh’s Kangra district, the news of the death of local hero Namansh Syal — the IAF Wing Commander killed after a Tejas fighter jet crashed during an aerial display at the Dubai Air Show — is yet to sink in.
According to media reports, For most of them, Namansh, who was in his mid-30s, remains an outstanding athlete distinguished by his dedication to the country, “who even set an example in death by diverting the aircraft to save thousands present at the mega air show”.
Since early Saturday, heart-wrenching scenes have been witnessed at the Syal household in the Nagrota Bagwan area, with villagers trying to console the wailing family members mourning a life lost too soon.
Meanwhile , State-run aerospace behemoth Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd, the manufacturer of Tejas aircraft, has said it was deeply saddened by the loss of life of the “courageous IAF pilot” during the aerial display at the Dubai Air Show.
The pilot has been identified as Wing Commander Namansh Syal. He was killed after the indigenous multi-role Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), Tejas, crashed in a ball of fire during the aerial display at the Dubai Air Show.
It was the second time in 20 months that the aircraft manufactured by HAL was involved in a crash. The earlier accident occurred in Jaisalmer in Rajasthan in March last year, but the pilot ejected safely.
