US pilot withdraws from Dubai show after Tejas crash.
After Wing Commander Syal’s fatal Tejas crash, a US Air Force pilot wondered why the airshow’s flying display continued.
The tragic crash of an Indian Air Force Tejas fighter jet at the Dubai Airshow 2025 has triggered an emotional and deeply human response across the global aviation community.
On Saturday, Hiester shared a moving Instagram post in which he openly questioned the organisers’ decision to allow the airshow’s flying schedule to continue just moments after the fatal accident that killed Indian Air Force (IAF) pilot Wing Commander Namansh Syal. His message, written with clear shock and sadness, also announced that his own team—and several others—had decided to withdraw from their final performance out of respect for the fallen pilot.
The crash took place on Friday at Al Maktoum International Airport, where Wing Commander Syal was performing a high-precision manoeuvre in the indigenously built Tejas Light Combat Aircraft. The routine, meant to showcase agility and capability, ended in tragedy when the jet lost control and went down. Despite immediate emergency response, Syal could not be saved. His death sent shockwaves across India, the aviation world, and the thousands watching the show in person and online.
Hiester described the moment with painful clarity in his post, where he wrote:
His words reflected a sentiment many spectators quietly shared: disbelief that the event resumed almost immediately, with aircraft continuing to take off and perform demonstrations while emergency crews were still at work at the crash site. For those in uniform—especially pilots who understand the risks and bonds of their profession—the loss of a fellow aviator is felt deeply, regardless of nationality.
Hiester’s decision to withdraw was not about protocol or politics. It was, as his tone made clear, a matter of honour. The F-16 Viper Demonstration Team, known worldwide for its precision and discipline, chose solidarity over spectacle, signalling that respect for a fallen pilot outweighs any performance. Their gesture was echoed by a handful of other teams who quietly made the same choice.
The Instagram message resonated widely because it captured what many in the aviation community were saying privately: that flying immediately after such a fatal crash felt emotionally jarring. Pilots share a unique fraternity built on trust, risk, and a deep understanding of the thin line they walk every time they take to the skies. When one of them is lost, especially in front of peers and spectators, the grief and shock ripple through every cockpit and hangar.
For India, Wing Commander Namansh Syal’s death was a heartbreaking moment. A skilled fighter pilot, he had been entrusted with showcasing the Tejas—an aircraft symbolic of India’s growing defence capabilities and technological confidence. His performance in Dubai was meant to be a proud representation of Indian aviation. Instead, it became a reminder of the dangers that military pilots confront every day.
Hiester’s post acknowledged that sacrifice with a sincerity that stood out amid the official statements and press releases that followed. He emphasized that cancelling their own show was a small gesture, but one the team felt compelled to make. “We chose respect,” he wrote, and in doing so, he voiced what many felt but could not say publicly.
The incident has sparked conversations among aviators, event organisers, and spectators about safety protocols and the emotional responsibility involved in continuing air displays after fatalities. But beyond the procedural questions lies a simple human truth: loss affects people, even in the most disciplined and high-stakes professions.
Major Hiester’s words, and the decision by his team, reminded the world that behind every aircraft and every performance is a person—someone’s son, colleague, mentor, or friend. And in honouring Wing Commander Syal, he honoured the entire community of pilots who dedicate their lives to flying, knowing the risks but driven by passion and duty.
As India mourns its fallen pilot, the gesture from the American team stands as a quiet but powerful symbol of shared respect—one aviator saluting another, across borders, uniforms and flags.