Training aircraft crashes near Ganga Barrage in Kanpur; both pilots dead - The Times of India

**Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh –** A two‑seat training aircraft belonging to a local flying school crashed in a field near the Ganga Barrage on the outskirts of Kanpur on Saturday, killing both the instructor and the trainee pilot on board. The aircraft, a Cessna‑152 used for basic flight‑training, was reportedly conducting a routine circuit when it descended abruptly and impacted the ground at approximately 09:45 IST. Emergency responders arrived within minutes, but the impact was fatal; the two occupants were pronounced dead at the scene.

State officials and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) have launched a joint investigation to determine the cause of the accident. Preliminary statements from the DGCA indicate that the flight log and weather reports will be examined, alongside the aircraft’s maintenance records, which had been up to date according to the school’s documentation. The Ministry of Civil Aviation has also dispatched a technical team to secure the wreckage and collect evidence, while the Uttar Pradesh Transport Department has temporarily suspended training operations at the Kanpur aerodrome pending the investigation’s findings.

The tragedy has prompted an outpouring of condolences from senior government officials, including the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, who expressed “deep sorrow” and ordered a review of safety protocols at all flight training institutes in the state. Families of the deceased have been offered immediate assistance, and the flying school has pledged full cooperation with the probe. Aviation safety experts have warned that such incidents underscore the need for stricter oversight of training flights, particularly in congested airspace near major waterway crossings like the Ganga Barrage.

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