KANPUR: A private training aircraft crashed near the Ganga Barrage in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, on Thursday, killing both the flight instructor and trainee pilot on board, according to the latest information from police and aviation authorities.
The aircraft, operated by Garg Aviation, crashed into an agricultural field near Natthapurwa village in the Katri area, leaving the plane badly damaged and triggering an immediate emergency response.
Aircraft Crashed About 20 Minutes After Take-Off
Kanpur Police Commissioner Raghubir Lal said the aircraft took off from the Garg Aviation Training Centre at approximately 11:30 am.
Around 20 minutes later, at about 11:50 am, the aircraft crashed near Natthapurwa village.
The aircraft was reportedly conducting a routine training sortie when the accident occurred.
Instructor and Trainee Pilot Killed
Police identified the victims as instructor Sachin Bhatia of Gujarat and trainee pilot Abhishek Pujari of Karnataka.
Bhatia was an experienced instructor with around 3,000 hours of flying experience, according to the Kanpur Police Commissioner.
Early reports initially suggested that one person had died while another was critically injured. Authorities subsequently confirmed that both occupants were killed, highlighting how casualty information changed during the initial response.
Tecnam Training Aircraft Involved
Authorities said the aircraft was an Italian-made Tecnam, described by police as a four-seat, twin-engine training plane.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) identified the aircraft as a Tecnam P2006T bearing registration VT-NBV, according to reports citing the regulator.
The wreckage was scattered across the field following the impact.
Police and Rescue Teams Rush to Crash Site
Local residents gathered near the scene after seeing the aircraft wreckage, while police and emergency personnel quickly reached the location.
The area was cordoned off as authorities recovered the occupants and secured the wreckage for examination.
The aircraft reportedly came down in an open agricultural area, and there were no immediate reports of casualties among people on the ground.
DGCA to Investigate Cause of Crash
The cause of the accident has not yet been established.
The DGCA is expected to investigate the crash and examine the wreckage, operational records and other available evidence to determine what caused the aircraft to go down shortly after take-off.
Authorities have cautioned against speculation until the technical investigation is completed.
Investigators are likely to examine multiple factors typically considered after aviation accidents, including the aircraft’s condition, flight operations and circumstances immediately preceding the crash.
Investigation Underway
The fatal accident has put renewed attention on flight-training operations in Kanpur.
For now, officials are focused on preserving evidence from the crash site and establishing the sequence of events during the roughly 20-minute flight.
Further details are expected after aviation investigators conduct their technical assessment.
The latest confirmed toll is two dead—the flight instructor and trainee pilot—with no reported survivors from the aircraft.
About the Author
