US Pilot Questions Dubai Air Show Continuation After Fatal Tejas Crash
Following the fatal crash of IAF Tejas fighter jet at the Dubai Air Show, F-16 Viper Demonstration Team Commander Hiester withdraws his team as a mark of respect
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Nov 24, 2025 – Continuing with the air show after the tragic death of one of the performing pilots following a fatal crash during a maneuver has come in for heavy criticism from US Air Force (USAF) team Major Taylor "Fema" Hiester who has questioned the organisers’ decision to continue and called it a “shocking move”.
On November 21, 2025, Wing Commander Namansh Syal was killed when the Indian Air Force Tejas fighter jet he was flying crashed during a negative-G maneuver at low altitude in the Dubai Air Show.
Feeling “uncomfortable” for many reasons after the crash, F-16 Viper Demonstration Team Commander Hiester decided to pull his team out from their maneuver in that very same Dubai Air Show and left the venue, just before their final performance of the season.
Shaken by the incident, Hiester had expected the organisers to call off the event after one of the participating pilots had lost his life.
Writing an emotional post on Instagram, the USAF team leader describes the aftermath of the air crash saying, "The announcer was still enthusiastic, the crowd still watched the next several routines with excitement and when the show was over, it ended 'Congratulations to all of our sponsors, performers and we'll see you in 2027’,”.
"Though the show made the shocking decision to continue with the flying schedule, our team, along with a few others, made the decision to cancel our final performance out of respect to the pilot, his colleagues, and family," he wrote, adding, "Whatever guise, whatever 'rockstar treatment', the fancy dinners and sponsor chalets, my team, who became my family, is all I ever had in the first place."
Saying that this is a lesson he will keep with him for long even after he has retired, Heister concluded on a poignant note, "The show must go on, that they say always. And they're right. But just remember, someone will say that after you're gone too. Thanks."
With Media Inputs
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