A private training aircraft crashed in a field near the banks of the Ganga in Kanpur on Thursday, killing the pilot and co-pilot, police said.
The aircraft was being operated by Kanpur-based aviation training institute Garg Aviation.
The crash took place in the Ganga Barrage area, where the aircraft came down in a field. Soon after the accident, local residents rushed to the spot and helped take the two injured men to a nearby hospital. However, both succumbed to their injuries.
The identities of the pilot and co-pilot have not been released yet. Police said the pilot had more than 3,000 flying hours and was a resident of Gujarat. The co-pilot was from Karnataka.
DGCA To Probe Aircraft Crash
Following the accident, police cordoned off the crash site and informed the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). A DGCA team is expected to reach the spot and begin an investigation into the circumstances that led to the crash.
The exact reason behind the accident is not known yet. Police said a detailed investigation will be carried out to determine what caused the training aircraft to crash.
Officials are expected to examine the aircraft, the crash site and other available evidence as part of the probe. The investigation will also seek to establish whether any technical or operational issue led to the accident.
Pilot Had Over 3,000 Flying Hours
According to police, the pilot had more than 3,000 hours of flying experience. He was from Gujarat, while the co-pilot belonged to Karnataka.
The accident has raised concern as the aircraft was being used for aviation training. Further details about the flight, including the circumstances immediately before the crash, are expected to emerge as the DGCA investigation progresses.
CM Yogi Expresses Grief
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed deep sorrow over the deaths. He offered his condolences to the families of the two victims and prayed for peace for the departed souls.
The chief minister also prayed that the bereaved families find strength to bear the loss.
The cause of the crash remains unclear at present, and officials are waiting for the detailed investigation to establish what happened before the aircraft went down near the Ganga Barrage.