USAF Major Taylor Hiester slams Dubai Airshow for continuing displays after fatal IAF Tejas crash
USAF Major Taylor Hiester condemned the Dubai Airshow2025 event organizers for continuing with the flying displays, despite the IAF Tejas crash that killed Wing Commander Namansh Syal. Hiester's F-16 team canceled their own flying display veteran out of respect for Syal and all during the event.
Aadrika Tayal 
New Delhi (India) November 24: US Army Air Force (USAF) pilot Major Taylor Fema Hiester Saturday expressed his shock over the decision of Dubai Air Show 2025 organizers to continue with the event, even after the fatal crash of the Tejas aircraft in which the IAF pilot was killed last week.
USAF demo team scraps final flight in tribute to Wing Commander Namansh Syal
In an Instagram post, Hiester shared that he and his team had decided to cancel their final performance. This is out of respect for the IAF pilot, his brethren, and his family.
He posted, “Yesterday, on the final day of the Dubai Airshow, Indian Air Force Wing Commander Namansh Syal was killed performing a fighter jet acrobatic demo in the Tejas. Our team was preparing our own airplane to fly our own display. 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."
Hiester criticizes crowd’s celebratory mood as fatal accident
Hiester noted that even with the crash, the announcer was clearly excited for the continued flying performances, and people in the audience watching with excitement all still clapped and cheered when there was a break in the show to present the traditional "thank you sponsors and performers."
He posted, “I walked through the show site maybe an hour or two later expecting to find it empty, down, or off. It wasn’t. The announcer was still enthusiastic, the crowd still watched the next several routines with excitement and when the show was over, it ended with “Congratulations to all of our sponsors, performers and we’ll see you in 2027.”
“Together and individually, we all quietly watched the aftermath unfold from a distance thinking about the Indian maintenance crew standing on the ramp next to an empty parking spot, an aircraft ladder laid on the ground, the pilot’s belongings still in his rental car. I suppose each of us contemplated their new reality that came in an instant,” he added.
Debate grows over ethical protocols and respect following fatal incidents
Hiester's statements have sparked a broader discussion about aviation safety protocols, and how we react to post-accidents, as well as the cultural norms of airshows in responding to an incident. Historically, most airshows around the world suspend their displays after a fatal accident, and will not resume until an investigation or tributes are established.
Aviation defence analysts will point out that while the operational decision may be different between countries, continuing a show without interruption might pose an ethical dilemma—specifically in cases in which the deceased pilot is part of an air force present at the airshow.
The comments come after Wing Commander Namansh Syal died after his Tejas fighter jet. It is a multi-role Light Combat Aircraft that was designed and built in India by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) crashed during a maneuver at Al Makhtoum International Airport on Friday.
