A routine training flight ended in tragedy in India’s Kanpur after a twin-engine Tecnam aircraft crashed into a field.
Both pilots on board were killed in the accident, according to Indian police.
The victims were identified as Sachin Bhatia, an instructor pilot from Gujarat, and Abhishek Pujari, a trainee pilot from Karnataka.
The aircraft had taken off from the Garg Aviation Training Centre at around 11:30 a.m.
It was reportedly returning to the training centre when it crashed into a field at approximately 11:50 a.m.
The aircraft was in the air for only around 20 minutes before the fatal crash.
Emergency and police teams rushed to the crash site after receiving information about the accident.
Authorities cordoned off the area and recovered the bodies of both pilots from the wreckage.
Bhatia was an experienced instructor who had reportedly accumulated around 3,000 hours of flying experience.
Pujari was undergoing pilot training at the Garg Aviation Training Centre when the accident occurred.
The aircraft involved was a four-seat, twin-engine Tecnam used specifically for pilot training.
The aircraft had reportedly been brought to the training centre in 2023 for training operations.
The sudden crash has raised questions about what happened during the short flight.
However, authorities have not yet determined the exact cause of the accident.
The incident has been reported to India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
The aviation regulator is expected to conduct a detailed technical investigation into the crash.
Investigators will examine the aircraft, flight records and other available evidence to determine what led to the accident.
Officials are also expected to assess whether any technical or operational issues contributed to the crash.
The fatal incident has renewed attention on aviation safety and risks associated with pilot training flights.
Training aircraft are regularly used by aviation academies to prepare pilots for commercial and other flying operations.
Although such flights are conducted under established safety procedures, technical failures and other emergencies can still lead to serious accidents.
India has witnessed several aviation incidents involving commercial, military and training aircraft in recent years.
In June 2025, Air India Flight AI171 crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad, killing 260 people.
Earlier this year, separate crashes also involved Indian Air Force Mirage 2000 and Jaguar fighter aircraft.
A PC-7 trainer and a Tejas fighter were also involved in crashes in November.
In June, a Cessna 152 training aircraft crash-landed in Kasganj following a reported technical problem. The trainee pilot was injured.
The latest Kanpur crash is now expected to undergo a detailed investigation to establish its cause.
Authorities have yet to release further findings about the circumstances leading to the Tecnam aircraft’s crash.
The investigation will determine whether mechanical failure, operational factors or another issue was responsible for the tragedy.
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