Wing Commander Namansh Syal’s Mortal Remains to Reach Kangra on Sunday, Nation Mourns His Sacrifice

In a tragic incident at the Dubai Air Show, Wing Commander Namansh Syal (fondly called Naman Syal at home) lost his life when the Tejas fighter jet crashed on Friday, November 21. His mortal remains will arrive in Kangra on Sunday, November 23, and he will be laid to rest with full state honors in his ancestral village, Patialkhar. The news of his martyrdom has cast a wave of grief over his hometown.

Mortal remains to arrive in Kangra

According to family members, Namansh’s body will first reach Coimbatore Airbase from Dubai on Saturday. On Sunday around 2 PM, his remains along with family members are expected to arrive at Kangra Airport. From there, the body will be taken to his ancestral village Patialkhar, where the final rites will be performed with state honors.

Six months of training in Kolkata

Namansh’s uncle, Jogindranath Syal, recalled the heartbreaking moment: “Around 3 PM on Friday, Namansh’s father called to say that Naman had met with an accident. Later, one of our tenants working in Dubai confirmed that the fighter jet had crashed around 2 PM, and Namansh was martyred. I then informed my brother that it wasn’t just an accident—Naman was no longer with us.”

Namansh was posted at the Airbase in Sulur near Coimbatore. His wife, also a Wing Commander, has been undergoing training at IIM Kolkata for the past six months.

Family details

Namansh’s young daughter, who studies in Class 1 in Hyderabad, was being looked after by his parents. His father had returned home a month ago, but before leaving for Dubai, Namansh asked him to go back to Hyderabad. His parents divided their time—six months at home and six months with Namansh—often traveling back and forth.

He also has a sister who is married in Hamirpur.

Final farewell with state honors

As per the schedule, Namansh’s mortal remains will reach Sulur Airbase between 8–9 PM on Saturday night. On Sunday, his family will accompany his body to Kangra by plane. The cremation will take place in Patialkhar village the same day with full state honors.

A nation in mourning

SDM Nagrota Bagwan, Munish Kumar Sharma, said: “The news of the brave Wing Commander Namansh Syal’s martyrdom has brought a wave of grief across the nation. He had gone to Dubai for the Air Show, which concluded on Friday. Around 2:10 PM, the family was informed of his sacrifice.”

Saved thousands of lives before his last breath

The SDM added that Namansh was piloting the Tejas fighter jet when it crashed. Initially, there was hope he might have survived, but later confirmation came of his martyrdom. Thousands of spectators were present at the show, and Namansh steered the jet away from the crowd, saving countless lives before making the ultimate sacrifice.

Namansh’s wife, herself a Wing Commander, is the only daughter in her family.