A four-seater, twin-engine training aircraft crashed into a field near the Ganga Barrage in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, on Thursday, killing an instructor pilot and a trainee, police said.
The aircraft had taken off from the Garg Aviation Training Centre at around 11:30am and crashed roughly 20 minutes later while returning from the training flight. Emergency teams rushed to the site, while India’s aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), is set to conduct a detailed investigation.
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.
“Two people have died,” Lal told reporters, confirming that both the instructor and trainee had been on board the aircraft.
According to police, the flight departed from the Garg Aviation Training Centre at approximately 11:30am and crashed at around 11:50am as the aircraft was returning.
The four-seater dual-engine aircraft crashed in an open field near Natthupurwa village, close to the Ganga Barrage in Kanpur.
Police said the crash occurred on the outskirts of Natthapurwa village in the Gwaltoli police station area. Another account placed the crash within the limits of Nawabganj police station, near the banks of the Ganga.
The aircraft came down in a field, triggering a major emergency response involving police, fire services and rescue personnel.
Following reports of the crash near the Nattha Khera Ganga Barrage, Kanpur Nagar Fire and Emergency Services rescue teams reached the site and began relief and rescue operations in the presence of the Chief Fire Officer.
Instructor had 3,000 hours of flying experience
Police said the aircraft was a four-seater, twin-engine Tecnam aircraft used for pilot training.
Commissioner Lal said instructor Sachin Bhatia had approximately 3,000 hours of flying experience, highlighting the extensive experience of the pilot who was operating the training flight.
Police said the Tecnam aircraft had been brought to the centre for training purposes in 2023. The operator and other technical details will be examined as part of the official investigation.
Conflicting initial reports about second pilot
Initial reports from the crash site had indicated that one pilot died at the scene, while the second occupant was pulled from the wreckage in critical condition and taken to hospital.
Later reports citing local officials confirmed that both the instructor and trainee pilot had succumbed to their injuries. Police subsequently identified the deceased as Bhatia and Pujari.
Local residents said they heard a loud bang or possible explosion shortly before the aircraft lost control and crashed into the field.
The exact cause of the sound and whether it was connected to the crash has not been established.
Authorities are expected to examine the wreckage, flight records and other evidence to determine what caused the aircraft to go down and establish the precise sequence of events.
Crash site secured for investigation
Police cordoned off and secured the crash site to preserve evidence and facilitate the investigation. The bodies of the deceased were removed from the crash site after the rescue operation.
Emergency personnel also carried out the necessary relief and rescue measures at the location. Police said further technical inquiries would be handled by the DGCA.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation has been informed about the accident and will send a team to conduct a technical and detailed investigation.
The exact cause of the accident remains unknown.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed deep grief over the aircraft crash in Kanpur. He conveyed his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and prayed for peace for the departed souls.
The chief minister also prayed for strength for the families as they cope with the loss.
The crash has prompted a detailed aviation safety investigation as authorities work to determine why the training aircraft crashed and whether any technical or operational factors were involved.
