2 Pilots Dead After Training Aircraft Crashes In Kanpur
Kanpur: Two pilots were killed on Thursday after a twin-engine training aircraft crashed in a field near the banks of the Ganga River in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh.
The aircraft was carrying two people — a trainee pilot and an instructor. Both suffered fatal injuries in the crash.
The pilots have been identified as Sachin Bhatia from Gujarat and Abhishek Pujari from Karnataka. The duo had taken off from the Garg Aviation training centre in Kanpur at around 11:30 am. Nearly 20 minutes later, while returning to the training centre, the aircraft crashed.
Police officials said one of the pilots was undergoing training, while the other was an experienced instructor with around 3,000 hours of flying experience.
Kanpur Nagar Police Commissioner Raghubir Lal said the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) had been informed and that its team would conduct a detailed investigation. Authorities also secured the crash site to preserve evidence.
Emergency personnel and local authorities rushed to the location soon after the accident. Images from the site showed the aircraft completely destroyed, with its metal structure twisted and sections of the wings and white panels scattered across the grassy, wooded area.
The exact circumstances that led to the crash remain unclear. Officials said the aircraft appeared to have lost control shortly before the accident. The training aircraft had reportedly been brought to the centre in 2023.
What DGCA Said
The DGCA confirmed that the aircraft was operating a training flight in the Local Flying Area of Kanpur Civil Airport when the accident occurred.
The aviation regulator said its team was heading to the site for regulatory oversight and coordination. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has also been informed and will conduct a detailed investigation in accordance with applicable rules.
The DGCA said the cause and circumstances surrounding the crash would be established only after the investigation is completed.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed his condolences to the families of the two pilots. He prayed for the departed souls and wished strength to the bereaved families as they cope with the tragic loss.
The crash has once again highlighted the risks involved in flight training, as authorities begin examining what went wrong during what was supposed to be a routine training flight.
News Source : Information for this article was gathered from a variety of reliable news outlets.
