Wing Commander Afshan's final hand salute to Namansh Syal; Final rites held amidst chants and tears

NEW DELHI: She was adorned in an Indian Air Force uniform, but that couldn’t stop the tears from flowing down the cheeks of Wing Commander Afshan while paying her last respects to her husband, Namansh Syal. Colleagues stood holding Afshan's hand tightly as she gave one last salute in front of Syal's body, which was draped in the tricolour flag. The entire village of Patial Kar in Himachal Pradesh was moved to tears as Afshan and her daughter, six-year-old Arya, paid their last respects to Syal.

Syal's parents were also at the final rites ceremony, trying to cope with the tragic reality.

The country gave an emotional farewell to Wing Commander Syal, who died a hero's death when his Tejas fighter jet crashed during an air show at the Dubai Air Show on Friday. The mortal remains were cremated with full military honours amidst chants of Bharat Mata Ki Jai. Thousands of people, including locals, classmates and friends, flocked to pay their respects to Syal.

The body was first brought from Dubai to the Sulur Air Force Station near Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu. Air Force officers and officials received the body at the Sulur air base, where Syal formerly worked. Coimbatore District Collector Pavankumar G. Giriyappanavar and Air Force officers paid their respects.

The body was then brought to Patial Kar. Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu also expressed his condolences. The accident took place near Al Maktoum Airport at 2.15 pm local time on Friday.