Kanpur, Aug 28:
A trainee pilot and a flight instructor were killed after a twin-engine training aircraft crashed near the Ganga Barrage in Kanpur on Thursday, prompting an investigation by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau.
The Tecnam P2006T aircraft, operated by Garg Aviation, took off for a training flight from Kanpur Civil Airport at around 11.30 am and crashed approximately 20 minutes later near Nathapurwa village in the Katri area.
The aircraft, bearing registration VT-NBV, was operating in the local flying area of Kanpur airport. Both persons on board suffered fatal injuries.
The deceased were identified as flight instructor Sachin Bhatia from Gujarat and trainee pilot Abhishek Pujari from Karnataka. Police said Bhatia had around 3,000 hours of flying experience.
The Civil Aviation Ministry said the AAIB had been informed and would conduct a detailed investigation to determine the circumstances and cause of the accident.
A three-member team from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation will also visit the crash site for regulatory oversight and coordination.
Police and fire personnel rushed to the spot, cordoned off the area and secured the wreckage. Debris from the aircraft was scattered across the crash site.