'It was uncomfortable for me': US F-16 pilot 'shocked' that Dubai air show went on even after Tejas crash

Captain Taylor Hiester, a pilot of the US F-16 team who was at the Dubai Air Show where a Tejas fighter jet crashed, killing Wing Commander Namansh Syal, expressed his disbelief and shock that the show was not cancelled even after the tragic event. Hiester said their team was preparing their show when the accident took place. The event was not called off despite the tragedy but the US team and a few other decided to cancel their performance out of respect to the pilot and his colleagues and family.

As he headed to the US, he shared his emotions which were a mix of shock and discomfort as he also slammed the organisers for going on with the show.




Read: Salute & tears: Wing Commander Afshan's emotional goodbye to husband Namansh Syal

"After two years of doing this job, that was a first for our team and it came just before our final performance of the season. 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, aircraft ladder laid on the ground, the pilot's belongings still in his rental car," Hiester wrote.

Hiester recounted that after the fire was put out, the organisers notified the participants that the display would continue. Their team left but he returned to the site an hour or two later hoping that he would find an empty space. But to his disappointment, the announcer was still enthusiastic and people were watching the show.

"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.

'It was uncomfortable for me'

Hiester said the moment was uncomfortable for him as he imagined his team walking out of the show without him and other participants preparing for their performance. "I was shaken awake by this truth -- despite whatever guise, whatever 'rockstar treatment', fancy dinners and sponsor chlets, my team who became my family is all I ever had in the first place."

Questioning the concept of 'the show must go on', Hiester said it is true that the show must go on but everyone should remember that the show will go one when they are gone too.