Kanpur, Aug 2026 : Two pilots were killed on Thursday after a four-seater, twin-engine training aircraft crashed into a field near the banks of the Ganga River in Uttar Pradesh’s Kanpur, prompting emergency teams and local authorities to launch an immediate rescue and investigation operation.
The aircraft reportedly crashed at around 11:50 a.m. after taking off from the Garg Aviation Training Centre near Natthapurwa village, which falls under the Gwaltoli police station area. Preliminary information suggested that the aircraft may have lost control before coming down in the field.
Kanpur Police Commissioner Raghubir Lal confirmed the deaths of both occupants, identified as pilot Sachin and co-pilot Abhishek Pujari. Police teams and rescue personnel reached the site soon after receiving information about the accident and cordoned off the area.
According to officials, Sachin was a resident of Gujarat and had accumulated more than 3,000 hours of flying experience. Co-pilot Abhishek Pujari was from Karnataka. Both sustained fatal injuries in the crash.
The exact circumstances leading to the accident remain unclear. Officials said a detailed investigation would be required to establish whether the aircraft suffered a technical problem, encountered an operational issue or lost control for another reason.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has been informed about the incident, and a team is expected to visit the crash site as part of the investigation. Authorities are expected to examine the aircraft, flight records, maintenance details and other available evidence to determine what caused the crash.
The accident site was secured by police and rescue teams to preserve evidence and facilitate the investigation. Further information is expected after aviation authorities and investigators complete their initial assessment.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed grief over the deaths of the two pilots and conveyed his condolences to their families. He prayed for peace for the departed souls and strength for the bereaved families to cope with the loss.
The Kanpur crash comes amid a series of incidents involving training aircraft in different parts of the country in recent months, renewing attention on aviation safety and training operations.
In June, a woman pilot escaped with minor injuries after a two-seater trainee aircraft crashed into a field in Kasganj district of Uttar Pradesh. The incident had also prompted authorities to examine the circumstances surrounding the crash.
Earlier, in May, a training aircraft operated by the Redbird Flight Training Academy made a hard landing near Gojubavi village in Maharashtra’s Baramati. The incident was another reminder of the risks associated with flight-training operations.
As the investigation into the Kanpur crash continues, authorities are expected to determine the precise cause of the accident and establish whether any technical or operational factors contributed to the fatal incident.
