Russian Knights Aerobatics Team honoured Wing Commander Namansh Syal, who was killed in his HAL Tejas fighter jet after it crashed at the Dubai Air Show on Friday, November 21, 2025. The moving tribute was conducted during their closing performance and was dedicated to the fallen pilot.
A Tribute in the Sky
In a video posted on the Russian social media platform VK, the Russian Knights described the event as “impossible to describe”, dedicating their final display at the aviation show to:
In memory of the brothers who did not return from the last flight.
The formation they took up, ‘Missing Man’, is a symbolic tradition within the aviation industry. During the manoeuvre, one aircraft breaks away from the formation, leaving the rest of the flyers, and symbolising the departure of a comrade.
The video is now circulating on other social media platforms, such as Instagram and X (formerly known as Twitter), with viewers appreciating the touching tribute to the fallen Indian pilot from the Russian Aerobatic Team.
Horror in Dubai
Syal, 34-year-old Wing Commander was performing a solo demonstration in a HAL Tejas Mk1 when the aircraft seemed to lose altitude during a low-level negative-G manoeuvre, hitting the ground and bursting into flames within a matter of seconds.
Emergency services responded immediately to the scene. However, Syal did not survive, and an inquiry has been made to uncover the cause of the accident.
The aviation industry has been shaken by shock and horror following the incident, with some pulling out of the Dubai Airshow due to the harrowing experience.
Taylor ‘Fema’ Hiester, commander of the U.S. Air Force F-16 Viper Demo Team, took to Instagram saying:
After two years of doing this job, that was a first for our team and it came just before our final performance of the season. Together and individually, we all quietly watched the aftermath unfold from a distance thinking about the Indian maintenance crew standing on the ramp next to an empty parking spot, aircraft ladder laid on the ground, the pilot’s belongings still in his rental car. I suppose each of us contemplated their new reality that came in an instant.
Hiester also showed some outrage towards the Dubai Airshow itself by saying:
Though the show made the shocking decision to continue with the flying schedule, our team along with a few others made the decision to cancel our final performance out of respect to the pilot, his colleagues and family.
The Indian Air Force has described Syal as a “dedicated fighter pilot”, and our thoughts are with his friends, colleagues and family at this time.
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