For most people, flying remains one of the safest ways to travel. But when an aircraft crashes, the questions quickly move beyond the accident itself. What went wrong? Was it a technical failure, a problem during the flight, or something else?
India has seen several aircraft accidents involving passenger planes, helicopters and training aircraft in recent years. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) recorded eight accidents in 2025 and five in 2026 up to 9 June.
The latest incident happened in Kanpur on Thursday, 27 August, involving a training aircraft. Two pilots were on board. Neither survived.
What Happened In Kanpur?
The accident took place near Natthupurwa village, close to the Ganga Barrage in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, on Thursday afternoon.
According to the police and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the aircraft was on a training flight in the local flying area of Kanpur Civil Airport.
The twin-engine, four-seater aircraft crashed into a field near the banks of the Ganga.
There were two people on board: a trainee pilot and an instructor.
Both sustained fatal injuries. There were no reported injuries among people on the ground.
Who Were The Two Pilots?
The two pilots were identified as Sachin Bhatia from Gujarat and Abhishek Pujari from Karnataka.
Bhatia was the trainee pilot, while Pujari was the instructor.
According to Kanpur Police Commissioner Raghubir Lal, the instructor had around 3,000 hours of flying experience.
The pair had taken off from the Garg Aviation training centre in Kanpur at around 11:30 am.
The crash occurred approximately 20 minutes later, around 11:50 am, as they were returning towards the training centre.
What Aircraft Was Involved?
The aircraft was a twin-engine trainer operated by Garg Aviation.
Early reports identified it as a Tecnam P2006T, a four-seater twin-engine aircraft. The Times of India initially noted that the aircraft type and registration were still awaiting official confirmation from the DGCA.
A later report from the Times of India said the DGCA had confirmed the aircraft as a Tecnam P2006T with registration VT-NBV.
This aircraft had reportedly been brought to the training centre in 2023, according to NDTV.
So, Why Did The Plane Crash?
This is the biggest question, but there is no confirmed answer yet.
NDTV reported that officials said the aircraft lost control before the crash. However, that does not establish what caused the loss of control.
Possible factors in an aircraft accident can include mechanical problems, weather, human factors or other operational issues. But none of these should be treated as the cause of the Kanpur crash until investigators establish the facts.
The DGCA has specifically said that the circumstances and cause will be determined through a detailed investigation.
What Happened At The Crash Site?
Emergency teams and local authorities reached the site after the aircraft came down.
The wreckage was found in a field near the Ganga Barrage. Images from the location showed the aircraft heavily damaged, with parts of the wings and fuselage broken apart.
Police secured the area as officials began the initial response.
The fact that the aircraft came down in an open field also meant that the accident did not result in reported casualties on the ground.
What Happens Next?
The DGCA has sent a team to the crash site for regulatory oversight and coordination. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) will conduct the investigation into the crash.
The investigation will seek to establish what happened and determine the factors that may have contributed to the accident. The cause has not been established so far, and no specific technical or human factor should be treated as the cause at this stage.
For now, authorities have confirmed that the training aircraft crashed near the Ganga Barrage in Kanpur during a training flight, killing the two people on board. The circumstances leading to the crash will be determined through the investigation.
TL;DR | News At a Glance
What happened?
A twin-engine training aircraft crashed near Natthupurwa village close to Kanpur's Ganga Barrage on 27 August.
Who was on board?
A trainee pilot, Sachin Bhatia, and instructor pilot Abhishek Pujari.
Did anyone survive?
No. Both pilots sustained fatal injuries.
Why did the aircraft crash?
The aircraft reportedly lost control, but the exact cause remains unknown.
Who will investigate?
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) will conduct the detailed investigation, with the DGCA providing regulatory oversight.
What happens next?
Investigators will examine the wreckage and other available evidence to determine the circumstances and cause of the crash.
