A trainee pilot and a flying instructor were killed after a training aircraft crashed near the banks of the Ganga in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, on Thursday afternoon. The aircraft, operated by Garg Aviation, crashed in an agricultural field near Natthupurwa village in the Katri area, close to the Ganga Barrage. Read on to know more.
Kanpur Aircraft Crash Kills 2 People
As per a report by The Indian Express, police said the aircraft had taken off from Garg Aviation’s training centre in Kanpur at around 11:30 am and crashed approximately 20 minutes later while on a training sortie. The deceased were identified as Sachin Bhatia, a flying instructor from Gujarat, and Abhishek Pujari, a trainee pilot from Karnataka. According to Kanpur Police Commissioner Raghubir Lal, Bhatia had around 3,000 hours of flying experience. The aircraft was a four-seater, twin-engine Tecnam aircraft, with preliminary reports identifying it as a Tecnam P2006T.
Emergency response teams, including police and fire personnel, reached the crash site soon after the incident. The area was shut off and the wreckage secured as authorities began examining the circumstances surrounding the crash. Visuals from the site showed the aircraft severely damaged, with parts of its fuselage and wings scattered across the field.
Also Read: “Happy Birthday Amma,” Grandson Takes 84-Year-Old Grandmom On Her First Flight, Video Wins Hearts
DGCA To Examine The Aircraft’s Maintenance Records
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has been informed about the accident and will examine the aircraft’s airworthiness, maintenance records and other technical aspects. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is also anticipated to conduct a detailed investigation into the crash. The exact cause of the accident has not yet been resolved, with officials saying further investigation will be required to determine what went wrong during the training flight.
Also Read: She Is An Uber Driver, Makeup Artist, And Single Mom: Passenger Shares Inspiring Video
The aircraft had reportedly been with Garg Aviation since 2023. The crash comes about two months after a separate incident involving a woman cadet pilot at the same training organisation, who was harmed after coming into contact with a running propeller while disembarking a training aircraft. However, authorities have not indicated any connection between the two incidents.
The investigation is underway, with officials examining the circumstances surrounding the crash to determine what led to the fatal accident.
Cover Image Courtesy: X/Kalu Singh Chouhan
FAQs
Which is the biggest plane crash in India?
The biggest plane crash in Indian history is the 1996 Charkhi Dadri mid-air collision, which resulted in 349 fatalities.
Which airline has never had a plane crash?
Several major commercial airlines have never suffered a fatal passenger crash or hull loss during their operating history.
How many planes have been crashed in India?
. Government data reported 53 civil air accidents resulting in over 320 deaths over a recent five-year span alone, while military figures show the Indian Air Force lost over 100 aircraft during a prior decade-long stretch.