[Watch] I Saw The Final Moments: New Videos & Eyewitness Accounts Emerge After Tejas Crash

Dubai: Fresh eyewitness videos and personal accounts have surfaced a day after an Indian Air Force (IAF) Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA Mk-1) crashed during a flying demonstration at the Dubai Airshow, killing Wing Commander Namansh Syal. The new material offers a clearer picture of the moments leading up to the fatal impact on Friday.

Eyewitness video shows final seconds before crash

One of the most detailed visuals was captured by Abu Bakr, a real estate advisor who attended the show out of personal interest. His video shows the Tejas performing a negative-G turn before transitioning into a roll at an extremely low altitude.

Spectators at Al Maktoum International Airport can be seen jumping from their seats, pointing their phones at the sky as the aircraft descended sharply and burst into a ball of flames upon impact. A thick plume of black smoke rose almost instantly.

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According to the sequence visible in the clip, the aircraft “lost some altitude during the manoeuvre,” and by the time it managed to get “wings level after completing the barrel roll,” the descent rate was too high for recovery.

Pilot’s father learned of crash while browsing YouTube

In a deeply emotional account, Wing Commander Namansh Syal’s father said he found out about the accident while looking for airshow videos online.

“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,” The Indian Express quoted Jagan Nath Syal as saying.

He had spoken to his son just a day earlier. Namansh had told him to watch his performance on television or YouTube. Alarmed after seeing the reports, he immediately called his daughter-in-law—who is also an IAF Wing Commander—before Air Force officers arrived at their home in Himachal Pradesh.
“Moments later, at least six Air Force officers arrived at our house and I realised something bad happened to my son,” he told The Indian Express.

IAF confirms fatal accident during low-level display

The crash occurred during a low-altitude aerobatic performance on the final day of the Dubai Airshow, which began on November 17. Videos from the venue showed the Tejas nosediving before impact, followed by a towering plume of smoke.

“An IAF Tejas aircraft met with an accident during an aerial display at Dubai Air Show, today. The pilot sustained fatal injuries in the accident. IAF deeply regrets the loss of life and stands firmly with the bereaved family in this time of grief,” the IAF said in a statement on X.

Low-altitude aerobatics carry high operational risk

Demonstration flights often involve high-energy manoeuvres—rapid rolls, negative-G turns and steep descents—executed at very low altitudes to captivate spectators.

Such displays come with inherent risks:

At low height, even immediate ejection may not provide enough time for the parachute to deploy.

Sudden changes in aircraft attitude, such as an inverted roll or nose-down dive, can hinder both automatic and manual ejection.

Mechanical issues like structural failure or engine flameout may prevent the pilot from initiating or completing ejection.

Officials have not released any cause for the crash, and an investigation is underway.

The Tejas, a key component of India’s indigenous fighter programme, was participating in a showcase meant to highlight its aerobatic capabilities before an international audience.