Wing Commander Afshan stood in silent grief as she offered a final salute to her husband, Indian Air Force pilot Wing Commander Namansh Syal, during his last rites on Sunday. The heartbreaking moment, captured through her tears and unwavering composure, symbolised the strength and sacrifice of a military family.
The tragedy unfolded on November 21, when the LCA Tejas fighter jet crashed during a demonstration at the Dubai Air Show. The aircraft went down at Al Maktoum International Airport, claiming the life of the 34-year-old decorated pilot.
Who is Wing Commander Afshan?
Wing Commander Afshan, the wife of Namansh Syal, is also an officer in the Indian Air Force. At the time of the crash, she was in Kolkata undergoing a training course. The sudden news of the accident brought her world to a standstill.
Their daughter, Aarya, was staying with her grandparents in Sulur, Tamil Nadu, where Namansh was posted with No. 3 Squadron.
Who was Wing Commander Namansh Syal?
Wing Commander Namansh Syal hailed from Patialkar village in Kangra district, Himachal Pradesh.
Before the Dubai Air Show deployment, he was serving at Sulur Air Force Station in Tamil Nadu.
His father, Jagannath Syal — a former Army Medical Corps soldier and retired school principal — said the family was devastated, learning about the crash from online footage.
