During the Dubai Air Show, a tragic crash involving a Tejas aircraft prompted a US pilot to sternly criticize the event's organizers. Participating in the show, this pilot expressed disbelief at how swiftly normalcy resumed after the calamity. Enthusiasm from the commentator and applause from the crowd seemed unchanged despite the incident. Continuing the show after such a mishap, according to him, was a startling decision.
The US Air Force pilot, Major Taylor Fema Hester, known for his acrobatics in the skies with the F-16, took to Instagram. Here, he shared that in honor of pilot Naman and his family, as well as several others, the team decided to cancel their final performance at the air show.
Describing the scene, he recounted, "After the fire was extinguished, when the organizer informed me that the flying display would proceed, I resolved that our participation would be canceled. A couple of hours later, upon revisiting the site, I anticipated emptiness, assuming people had left, but that wasn't the case."
He noted, "The announcer remained excited, the crowd eagerly watched the subsequent routines, and as the show ended, congratulations unfurled for all sponsors and artists, with a reminder to join again in 2027."
Despite Wing Commander Naman Syal's demise, the organizers chose to continue the air show. Questioning them, he remarked, "On the final day of the Dubai Air Show, Indian Air Force's Wing Commander Naman Syal suffered a fatal crash during an aerobatic display with the Tejas, resulting in his death. Our team, alongside others, was preparing for their performance."
Source: aajtak
Following the incident, organizers opted to maintain the flying schedule, yet our team, alongside others, decided to cancel their final act, a gesture of respect for the late pilot, his companions, and family.
Hester commented on the decision to proceed with the show, "It felt strange to imagine our team exiting the site without the 'rock and roll take,' as preparations for the next performer began."
He noted, "The maxim 'the show must go on' is often cited, reflecting its truth. It's vital to remember that even after your departure, these words might be echoed."
Final Tribute to Naman Syal
Meanwhile, Wing Commander Naman Syal was laid to rest with full military honors in his ancestral village in Kangra. Reflecting on this, his father Jagannath Syal expressed the nation's loss of a remarkable pilot alongside his personal loss of a young son. Jagannath Syal remarked that Naman’s life was never dull, actively participating in every competition.
