Aviation Tragedy: Instructor and Trainee Lose Lives in Kanpur Training Flight Accident

KANPUR — A flying instructor and a trainee pilot lost their lives on Thursday afternoon when a twin-engine training aircraft crashed into a field near the banks of the Ganga River.

Fatal Training Aircraft Crash Near Ganga Barrage in Kanpur

KANPUR — A routine training flight turned fatal on Thursday when a four-seater, twin-engine Tecnam P2006T aircraft crashed into an open field near Natthupurwa village, close to the Ganga Barrage in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh. The aircraft, operated by Garg Aviation Ltd., took off from the Kanpur Civil Airport at approximately 11:30 a.m. local time and went down roughly 20 minutes later as it was returning to the training center.

Both crew members on board sustained fatal injuries in the accident. Local law enforcement and emergency services rushed to the scene, cordoning off the perimeter to preserve the wreckage for regulatory assessment. The tragic incident has triggered immediate safety inquiries by national civil aviation authorities to determine the precise sequence of events leading to the descent.

Investigation and Regulatory Response

DGCA and AAIB Deploy Teams to Examine Wreckage

According to official statements from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and local law enforcement, a three-member regulatory oversight team has been dispatched to inspect the crash site. Additionally, the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has been formally notified to lead a comprehensive technical probe into the accident. Investigators will scrutinize maintenance logs, airworthiness records, weather conditions, and communication transcripts to ascertain the exact cause.

Identification of Victims and Flight History

Kanpur Police Commissioner Raghuveer Lal identified the deceased as flying instructor Sachin Bhatia, a resident of Gujarat, and trainee pilot Abhishek Pujari from Karnataka. Authorities noted that Bhatia was an experienced aviator with approximately 3,000 hours of flying time. The aircraft involved, bearing registration VT-NBV, had been inducted into the Garg Aviation training fleet in 2023.

Official Statements and Authorities

All operational details, pilot identities, and safety protocols are drawn from official briefings issued by the Kanpur Police Commissionerate, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), and regional disaster management responders.

"According to officials, both the instructor and trainee took off at 11:30 AM from the local training center, and the incident occurred around 11:50 AM as they were returning; a full technical investigation by the DGCA and AAIB is underway to establish the cause."

Why It Matters

For the civil aviation training sector and flight academies across India, the crash underscores the critical importance of rigorous aircraft maintenance checks and safety protocols during local sorties. For the families of the victims and the local community near the Ganga banks, the sudden tragedy highlights the inherent risks associated with aviation training operations.

Key Facts at a Glance

• Date & Time: Thursday, August 27, 2026, around 11:50 a.m.

• Aircraft Type: Four-seater, twin-engine Tecnam P2006T operated by Garg Aviation.

• Casualties: Two fatalities (Instructor Sachin Bhatia and Trainee Abhishek Pujari).

• Investigating Agencies: Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB).

Frequently Asked Questions

What caused the training aircraft crash in Kanpur?

The exact cause of the crash remains unestablished; the DGCA and AAIB have launched a formal technical investigation to determine the factors.

Who were the individuals killed in the accident?

The victims were identified as flying instructor Sachin Bhatia and trainee pilot Abhishek Pujari.

Which organization operated the aircraft?

The twin-engine training plane was operated by Garg Aviation Ltd. based in Kanpur.

Source: Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Ministry of Civil Aviation, Kanpur Police Commissionerate