India

Trainee aircraft crashes in Kanpur; two pilots killed; cause remains unknown

The four-seater aircraft, which belonged to the Garg Aviation training centre, was on its way back to the centre when it crashed — barely 20 minutes into the flight.

Wreckage of the twin-engine training plane in a Kanpur field after Thursday's crash killed both pilots.
TND DESK
By TND DESK

A twin-engine training aircraft crashed into a field near the Ganga barrage in Natthupurwa village, in Kanpur’s Katri area, at around 11:50 am on Thursday, August  27, killing both the pilot and co-pilot on board just minutes after it had taken off for a routine training sortie.

The four-seater aircraft belonged to the Garg Aviation training centre and had taken off at around 11:30 am. It was on its way back to the centre when it crashed at approximately 11:50 am — barely 20 minutes into the flight.

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The two men on board, pilot Sachin Bhatia of Gujarat and co-pilot Abhishek Pujari of Karnataka, died on the spot, Kanpur Police Commissioner Raghubir Lal confirmed.

The crash occurred near the Ganga barrage in Natthupurwa village, in the Katri area of the city. What caused the aircraft to go down remains unclear, and officials say a formal investigation will be needed before any conclusions can be drawn. Residents of the area described hearing a loud noise moments before the wreckage was spotted in the field, sending people rushing to the site in panic.

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Police and emergency crews reached the spot soon after and found the aircraft in pieces — debris scattered across the grass, a broken wing, shattered white panels, and twisted metal from the fuselage. A seat was found lying near the wreckage, though officials have not said whether either pilot had attempted to escape before the crash. Commissioner Lal said Bhatia was an experienced flyer, with close to 3,000 hours of flying time behind him. He added that the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has been informed and will examine the technical aspects of the crash.

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In a statement, the DGCA said a team was being sent to the crash site for “regulatory oversight and coordination.” The Ministry of Civil Aviation said the incident will also be investigated by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB).

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Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed condolences to the families of the two pilots, offering prayers for the departed souls and strength for the families in this time of grief.

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