The Indian Air Force (IAF) pilot who died after a Tejas fighter jet crashed during an aerial display at the Dubai Airshow on Friday has been identified as Wing Commander Namansh Syal, officials confirmed.

Syal, a resident of Himachal Pradesh’s Kangra district, was performing a demonstration when the indigenous fighter aircraft went down at Al Maktoum International Airport.

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu expressed his condolences on X, describing Syal as a “courageous and dutiful” officer. “The nation has lost a brave son,” he wrote, adding that the news was “profoundly saddening”.

The IAF said the pilot sustained fatal injuries in the crash, and a court of inquiry has been ordered to determine the cause of the accident.

“The IAF deeply regrets the loss of life and stands firmly with the bereaved family,” the service said in a statement.

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), the manufacturer of the Tejas aircraft, said it was “deeply saddened” by the incident and extended condolences to Syal’s family.

Friday’s crash marks the second accident involving a Tejas aircraft, the first occurring in 2024 near Jaisalmer during a training exercise, in which the pilot ejected safely.