US F-16 pilot Captain Taylor Hiester expressed disbelief after witnessing the Dubai Air Show proceed despite the tragic crash of an Indian Tejas fighter jet that killed Wing Commander Namansh Syal.

Hiester said his team had been preparing for their performance when the accident occurred. While they cancelled their display out of respect, the rest of the show continued as planned.

When Hiester returned to the venue an hour later, he was shocked to see the announcer maintaining high energy and the audience enjoying the event, despite the tragedy. “It was uncomfortable for me,” he said, reflecting on his mixed feelings of shock and unease. He recalled the poignant scene left behind: the Indian maintenance crew standing by an empty parking spot, the aircraft ladder on the ground, and the p

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