2 Pilots Dead In Training Aircraft Crash In Kanpur - NDTV

**Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh –** A trainer aircraft operated by Garg Aviation crashed in a field on the outskirts of Kanpur on [date], killing both the flight‑instructor and the trainee pilot on board. The two‑engine aircraft, which had taken off from Kanpur’s Chakeri Airport for a routine training sortie, lost altitude shortly after take‑off and slammed into a vacant plot of land, witnesses said. Emergency crews arrived within minutes, but the impact was severe and the occupants could not be revived.

The deceased have been identified as **Captain Rajesh Kumar**, a senior flight‑instructor with more than 12 years of flying experience, and **Lieutenant‑Commander Arjun Singh**, a junior pilot undergoing advanced training. Hospital officials confirmed that both men were pronounced dead at the scene. Local authorities cordoned off the crash site, and a team from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) was dispatched to collect evidence and secure the wreckage for forensic examination.

Preliminary reports suggest a possible technical malfunction, though the exact cause remains under investigation. The DGCA has ordered a comprehensive inquiry, including an audit of the aircraft’s maintenance records and a review of Garg Aviation’s training protocols. The incident has reignited calls from aviation safety advocates for stricter oversight of flight‑training schools across India, as the sector expands to meet growing demand for pilots.

---