Wing Commander Afshan bids teary farewell to husband Namansh Syal killed in Tejas plane crash

(PTI photo)

Wing Commander Afshan on Sunday paid her last respects to her husband, Wing Commander Namansh Syal, who lost his life in a Tejas fighter jet crash during the Dubai Air Show on November 21.

His mortal remains were brought back to his ancestral village, Patialkar in Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh, for his last rites, ANI reported.

#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

— ANI (@ANI) November 23, 2025

In an emotional moment, Wing Commander Afshan stood beside her husband’s coffin and offered a final salute, her eyes filled with tears as she bid him farewell.

Wing Commander Namansh Syal’s last rites will be performed at his village, Patialkar. Villagers, who gathered around to have a last look at Wing Commander Namansh Syal, expressed their grief over the loss of one of their gems.

Namansh, a 34-year-old fighter pilot, was a dedicated officer and an outstanding athlete. He is survived by his wife Afshan, also an IAF officer, their six-year-old daughter Aarya, and his parents.

After the crash, the Indian Air Force has expressed its deepest condolences to the bereaved family.

Earlier today, Wing Commander Namansh Syal’s uncle, Madan Lal, recalled his childhood and mourned his demise.

“He was my nephew. The whole village is mourning and waiting for his mortal remains to arrive. The last rites will be performed today. This is a huge loss for the nation. He had a sharp mind and stood first in school,” the relative told ANI.