Two Pilots Killed as Training Aircraft Crashes in Kanpur

Kanpur: (News Desk) – Two pilots were killed on Thursday after a twin-engine training aircraft crashed into a field near the Ganga Barrage in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, police said. The victims were an instructor and a trainee pilot.

The aircraft reportedly departed from the Garg Aviation Training Centre at around 11:30am and came down approximately 20 minutes later while returning from a training flight.

Kanpur Police Commissioner Raghuveer Lal confirmed the deaths and identified the victims as instructor pilot Sachin Bhatia, a resident of Gujarat, and trainee pilot Abhishek Pujari from Karnataka.

The four-seat aircraft crashed in an open field near Natthupurwa village, close to the Ganga Barrage. Police, fire services and rescue teams reached the location after the accident and launched emergency operations.

Initial reports from the scene had suggested that one occupant had died while the other was critically injured. Subsequent information from officials confirmed that both pilots had died from their injuries.

Instructor Reportedly Had 3,000 Flight Hours

Police said the aircraft was a Tecnam twin-engine training aircraft being used for pilot instruction.

Commissioner Lal said instructor Sachin Bhatia had around 3,000 hours of flying experience, highlighting his considerable experience in aviation.

The aircraft had reportedly been brought to the training centre in 2023. Authorities are expected to examine the aircraft’s maintenance history, operational records and other technical details as part of the investigation.

Loud Bang Reported Before Crash

People in the surrounding area reportedly heard a loud bang or what sounded like an explosion shortly before the aircraft crashed.

However, authorities have not established whether the reported sound was connected to the accident. The cause of the crash remains unknown.

Investigators are expected to examine the wreckage, flight data, maintenance records and other available evidence to establish what happened during the final stage of the flight.

DGCA to Investigate Accident

The crash site was secured by police to preserve evidence and facilitate the investigation. Rescue personnel also completed operations at the scene and recovered the bodies.

India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is expected to conduct a detailed technical investigation into the accident. Authorities will determine whether mechanical, operational, environmental or other factors contributed to the crash.

The incident remains under investigation, and no definitive cause has been established so far.

Yogi Adityanath Expresses Grief

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed grief over the deaths and offered condolences to the families of the two pilots.

He also prayed for peace for the deceased and strength for their relatives as authorities continue investigating the fatal training-flight accident.