IAF officer joins Dubai probe after Tejas fighter jet crash
A tragic moment at the Dubai Airshow: an Indian Air Force (IAF) Tejas Mark-1 fighter jet crashed during a display on Friday, claiming the life of Wing Commander Namansh Syal.
Now, an IAF officer is in Dubai to help investigate what went wrong as part of an inquiry that will analyze the plane's flight data recorder.
What happened and what's next?
The crash happened as the jet lost control during a tricky low-altitude maneuver.
Even after this loss, the IAF hasn't grounded its Tejas jets—technical checks are ongoing while investigators work to piece together exactly what led up to the accident.
Why does this matter?
This is only the second accident for Tejas in over two decades—and sadly, its first fatal one.
With 38 jets flying and upgraded models coming soon, figuring out what caused this crash will shape how India keeps its pilots safe going forward.