New Delhi: Mourning the tragic loss of Wing Commander Namansh Syal, the Indian Air Force said on Saturday that the air warrior was a "dedicated fighter pilot" and a thorough professional who served the nation with unwavering commitment, exceptional skill and an unyielding sense of duty.

Syal, from Himachal Pradesh, was killed on Friday when the indigenous multi-role Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), Tejas, crashed in a ball of fire during an aerial display at the Dubai Air Show. The single-engine lightweight aircraft went down around 2:10 pm local time (3:40 pm IST) after flying over the event site during the demonstration flight, which was scheduled to last eight minutes.

The IAF paid tribute on X, stating: "The Indian Air Force deeply mourns the tragic loss of Wg Cdr Namansh Syal, who lost his life in the unfortunate Tejas aircraft accident at the Dubai Air Show. A dedicated fighter pilot and thorough professional, he served the nation with unwavering commitment, exceptional skill and an unyielding sense of duty."

The tribute included photos of Syal in uniform and pilot overalls next to a fighter jet, along with a video showing a solemn send-off attended by UAE officials, colleagues, friends, and Indian Embassy officials. "His dignified persona earned him immense respect through a life devoted to service," the IAF said. "The IAF stands in solidarity with his family in this hour of profound grief and honours his legacy of courage, devotion and honour. May his service be remembered with gratitude."

Syal is survived by his father, mother, wife—who also serves in the Air Force—and their six-year-old daughter.

The crash, which occurred within the airfield grounds of Dubai World Central's Al Maktoum International Airport, shocked spectators as the jet nosedived after a low-altitude manoeuvre and was engulfed in flames, sending black smoke billowing.

This was the second accident involving the indigenous LCA Tejas in less than two years. On March 12, 2024, a Tejas jet crashed near a residential colony in Jaisalmer during a return from the tri-services military exercise 'Bharat Shakti' in the Pokhran desert. That was the first accident since the jet began flying in 2001.

With inputs from PTI