2 Pilots From Gujarat, Karnataka Killed As Training Aircraft Crashes In Kanpur

Two pilots were killed on Wednesday after a training aircraft crashed near the Ganga barrage in Kanpur's Katri area, police officials said.

The deceased were identified as instructor Sachin Bhatia from Gujarat and trainee pilot Abhishek Pujari from Karnataka. According to Kanpur Police Commissioner Raghubir Lal, the aircraft took off from the flight training centre at around 11:30 am and crashed approximately 20 minutes later while returning to the centre.

The twin-engine Tecnam aircraft had been brought to the training school in 2023 for pilot training.

Bhatia had approximately 3,000 hours of flying experience, according to the police commissioner. The aircraft came down in a field near Natthupurwa village, with debris scattered across the area.

Local residents reported hearing a loud noise before the crash, triggering panic in the surrounding area. Emergency personnel and police reached the site soon after the incident.

The exact cause of the crash remains unknown. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has been informed and is expected to conduct a technical investigation to determine what went wrong.

Recent Training Aircraft Incidents

The Kanpur crash comes after several other incidents involving training aircraft in different parts of the country this year.

In June, a woman trainee pilot escaped with minor injuries after a two-seater training aircraft crashed into a field near Police Lines in Kasganj, Uttar Pradesh. The aircraft had taken off from Aligarh airport for a training sortie and reportedly struck a high-tension power line before hitting the ground. Preliminary findings suggested that the aircraft may have developed a technical problem.

The trainee pilot, identified as Kainaat Khan from Maharashtra, was the only person aboard the aircraft. She was taken to a district hospital and was reported to be in stable condition.

Another training aircraft incident was reported in May near Baramati in Maharashtra. A trainee aircraft operated by the Redbird Flight Training Academy made a hard landing near Gojubavi village during a routine practice session.

Police officials said the aircraft struck a pole while landing. The pilot, who was alone aboard the aircraft, was reported safe.

The latest Kanpur crash, however, resulted in two fatalities and is likely to face detailed scrutiny from aviation authorities.