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IAF Officer’s Final Farewell to Husband Wing Commander Namansh Syal — 300 Words
A moment of profound emotion unfolded as Wing Commander Afshan, an officer of the Indian Air Force, saluted her late husband, Wing Commander Namansh Syal, during his final farewell ceremony on Sunday. The solemn tribute was paid after his mortal remains returned to India following the tragic crash of his LCA Tejas aircraft during an aerial display at the Dubai Air Show on November 21.
The crash occurred around 2:10 pm local time during a low-altitude manoeuvre when the aircraft suddenly lost height and nose-dived, bursting into flames upon impact. The demonstration was scheduled to last eight minutes, but disaster struck just moments into the routine. The incident cast a shadow over the final day of the Dubai Air Show and shocked aviation communities around the world.
The mortal remains were received with full military honours at the Sulur Air Force Base in Tamil Nadu, where uniformed officers laid wreaths and paid ceremonial respects. The tricolour-draped casket was flown to his ancestral village in Himachal Pradesh for cremation. Afshan stood in uniform beside her six-year-old daughter as she performed the final salute, a moment captured widely and shared across the country.
The Indian Air Force issued a statement expressing deep grief:
“A dedicated fighter pilot and thorough professional, he served the nation with unwavering commitment, exceptional skill and an unyielding sense of duty.”
The IAF also released photographs and a video showing UAE officials, diplomats, colleagues, veterans, and civilians paying their respects.
Wing Commander Syal is survived by his parents, wife, and daughter. His death is the second loss involving the indigenous Tejas fighter in under two years, the earlier crash occurring in March 2024 during the ‘Bharat Shakti’ exercise near Jaisalmer. The nation has united in mourning, saluting a warrior whose courage and sacrifice will be remembered with honour.
#WATCH | Himachal Pradesh: Wing Commander Afshan salutes her husband, Wing Commander Namansh Syal, as she pays her last respects to him.
Wing Commander Namansh Syal lost his life in the LCA Tejas crash in Dubai on 21st November. pic.twitter.com/DPKwARut4r
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