Both pilots killed as training aircraft crashes in Kanpur | India News - Hindustan Times

**Kanpur Training Aircraft Crash Claims Two Lives**

On Monday morning, a two‑seat training aircraft belonging to the Indian Air Force’s National Flying Training Institute went down in a field near the Ganga Barrage on the outskirts of Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh. The aircraft, a single‑engine Cessna‑152 used for basic flight instruction, was carrying an instructor pilot and a trainee when it lost altitude and struck the ground at approximately 09:30 IST. Emergency responders from the district’s disaster management team and the local police arrived within minutes, but both aviators were pronounced dead at the scene despite immediate resuscitation attempts.

Preliminary statements from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the Air Force’s Aviation Safety Cell indicate that the crash is currently being treated as a “non‑combat” incident pending a full technical investigation. Officials have cordoned off the crash site and are collecting flight data recorder information, maintenance logs, and witness testimonies. The DGCA has announced a comprehensive probe to determine whether mechanical failure, weather conditions, or human error contributed to the accident, and it has pledged to release a detailed report within 30 days.

The tragedy has revived concerns about the safety of training operations in India’s rapidly expanding aviation sector. The Ministry of Civil Aviation has urged all flight schools and military training units to conduct thorough safety audits and reinforce adherence to standard operating procedures. Families of the deceased have been informed, and the Air Force has extended condolences, promising full support to the next of kin. The incident also prompted a temporary suspension of training flights in the Kanpur region until the investigation’s initial findings are reviewed.