2 pilots from Gujarat, Karnataka killed as training aircraft crashes in Kanpur | India News - Hindustan Times

**Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh –** A training aircraft crashed near the Ganga Barrage on the outskirts of Kanpur on Wednesday, killing both pilots on board. The aircraft, a twin‑engine trainer used for pilot‑licence instruction, went down shortly after take‑off from the nearby airfield. Emergency services arrived within minutes, but the wreckage was too severe for survivors; the two crew members—a pilot from Gujarat and an instructor from Karnataka—were pronounced dead at the scene.

Preliminary statements from the Uttar Pradesh police and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) indicated that the aircraft suffered a sudden loss of altitude before impacting the waterway. While the exact cause remains under investigation, officials have not ruled out mechanical failure or adverse weather conditions, which were reported to be foggy in the early hours. The DGCA has launched a forensic examination of the flight data recorder, and the Indian Air Force, which operates several similar trainer aircraft, has offered technical assistance to the probe.

The tragedy has revived concerns over the safety of flight‑training operations in India, where a series of accidents in recent years have prompted calls for stricter oversight and modernisation of aging fleets. Families of the deceased have been notified, and a condolence ceremony is planned at the Air Force Station in Kanpur. Authorities have urged other training schools to suspend flights pending a full safety audit, emphasizing that lessons learned from this incident must translate into concrete policy reforms to prevent further loss of life.