Kanpur Training Plane Crash Claims Two Lives

Luckow, August 27, 2026 A routine training flight turned tragic in Uttar Pradesh's Kanpur on Thursday after a twin-engine, four-seater aircraft crashed into a field near the banks of the Ganges River, killing both the trainee pilot and the instructor on board. The victims were identified as Sachin Bhatia from Gujarat and Abhishek Pujari from Karnataka. The two had taken off from the Garg Aviation training centre at around 11:30 am. The aircraft crashed at approximately 11:50 am while they were returning to the training centre, with officials stating that the plane lost control before the accident. "We have got information about the instructor. He had an experience of around 3,000 hours. The DGCA has been informed. Their team will conduct a thorough investigation. The police have protected the entire area," Raghubir Lal, Police Commissioner, Kanpur Nagar, said. Emergency services and senior officials reached the site soon after the crash. Visuals from the area showed the aircraft completely destroyed, with twisted metal debris and broken parts of its wings scattered across the grassy and wooded field. The exact cause of the accident has not yet been established. The DGCA said its team is proceeding to the site for regulatory oversight and coordination, while the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has been informed and will carry out a detailed investigation under the applicable rules. The aircraft, which was brought to the training centre in 2023, was operating in the Local Flying Area of Kanpur Civil Airport at the time of the crash. "The aircraft was on a training flight in the Local Flying Area of Kanpur Civil Airport. There were two persons on board, a trainee pilot and an instructor. Both sustained fatal injuries in the accident. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has been informed and will undertake a detailed investigation into the accident in accordance with the applicable rules. The circumstances and cause of the accident will be determined through the investigation," it said. As authorities begin a detailed probe into the tragedy, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed his condolences to the families of the two pilots, praying for peace for the departed souls and strength for their loved ones to cope with the loss. The investigation is expected to determine the circumstances that led to the fatal crash.