A routine training flight ended in tragedy in Kanpur on Thursday when a twin-engine aircraft crashed near the Ganga barrage, killing both pilots on board.
The aircraft took off from the Garg Aviation Training Center at around 11:30 am and crashed roughly twenty minutes later, at 11:50 am, as it was returning. The crash occurred near Nattha Purwa village along the Ganga, with witnesses reporting that the aircraft exploded with a loud bang before losing control and going down. The sound sent nearby residents rushing out of their homes in panic, and smoke and debris were reported at the site.
The Victims
Kanpur Police Commissioner Raghuveer Lal confirmed both pilots died: instructor Sachin Bhatia, a resident of Gujarat, and trainee pilot Abhishek Pujari from Karnataka. One pilot died at the crash site, while the other was pulled from the wreckage in critical condition and later succumbed to injuries at the hospital.
The plane was a four-seater, dual-engine Tecnam aircraft — an Italian-made training aircraft owned by Garg Aviation that had been brought to the facility in 2023. The commissioner noted that the instructor pilot was experienced, with around 3,000 hours of flying time.
Response and Investigation
Police and administrative teams reached the site soon after the crash and began rescue and relief operations, cordoning off the area to keep the large crowd of gathered villagers away from the wreckage. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has been informed and will carry out a detailed investigation into the cause of the crash; the bodies of both pilots have since been removed from the site. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has expressed condolences to the families of the two pilots.
Authorities have not yet confirmed what caused the crash, including whether a technical malfunction was involved; further details are expected as the DGCA’s investigation proceeds.