Kanpur: A private aircraft used for pilot training crashed in an agricultural field near Natthupurwa village, close to the Ganga Barrage in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, on Thursday afternoon. Both pilots on board reportedly died in the accident.
The four-seater, twin-engine aircraft came down within the jurisdiction of Nawabganj police station, near the banks of the Ganga. The crash prompted a large-scale emergency response, with police personnel, rescue workers and other teams being deployed at the site.
One Pilot Initially Reported Dead
Initial information from the site indicated that one of the pilots had died immediately after the crash. The other occupant was reportedly found trapped in the wreckage and taken to a hospital in a critical condition.
Subsequent reports quoting local officials said the two deceased were an instructor and a trainee pilot. Both reportedly died from injuries sustained in the crash.
Residents in the area said they heard a powerful bang, described by some as an explosion, moments before the aircraft went down. However, officials have not yet determined whether the sound was linked to a technical problem or another factor, as reported by The New Indian Express.
Probe To Establish Cause
Police and emergency teams secured the crash site. The aircraft’s wreckage is expected to be examined as part of the investigation into the accident.
The operator of the plane, the identities of the pilots and the location from which the training flight took off were not immediately known. Investigators will assess the flight records, inspect the aircraft and gather witness accounts to establish what caused the crash.
