Aligarh, A trainee pilot had a narrow escape on Sunday afternoon when a training aircraft crashed into the boundary wall of Dhanipur Airstrip in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh. The incident occurred around 3:10 PM during a solo training flight conducted by Pioneer Flying Academy.Baaa Acro+8India Today+8Bhaskar English+8Hindustan Times+6NDTV+6The Times of India+6
The aircraft, identified as a Diamond DA-40 with registration VTPNH, was being flown by trainee pilot Pranav Jain. While attempting to land, the aircraft collided with the airstrip’s boundary wall, resulting in significant damage to the front section of the plane. Fortunately, no fire broke out, and the pilot emerged unscathed. NDTV+4The Times of India+4Bhaskar English+4Hindustan Times+9Bhaskar English+9India Today+9
Director of the Civil Aviation Department, SS Agarwal, confirmed the incident, stating, “At 3:10 PM, a plane of Pioneer Flying Academy, in which a student was flying solo, crashed into the boundary wall during landing. The student is safe, and further action is underway.” The Times of India+4India Today+4NDTV+4
Emergency services, including the civil aviation department, police, fire brigade, and medical teams, promptly arrived at the scene to assess the situation and ensure safety protocols were followed. The trainee pilot received first aid at the airport before being taken to a nearby hospital for observation. 100 Knots+6The Times of India+6aaib.gov.in+6
Preliminary investigations suggest that a possible technical fault may have caused the aircraft to skid off the runway. The exact cause of the crash is under investigation by the relevant authorities.The Times of India
This incident is not the first of its kind at Dhanipur Airstrip. On January 22, 2022, a Cessna 172 S aircraft operated by Pioneer Flying Academy crash-landed in an agricultural field near the airstrip due to dense fog during a night training flight. Both the instructor and trainee pilot sustained minor injuries in that incident. 100 Knots+9Bhaskar English+9The Times of India+9NDTV+6100 Knots+6aaib.gov.in+6aaib.gov.in+2The Times of India+2100 Knots+2
The recent crash has raised concerns about flight safety protocols and training procedures at the airstrip. Authorities have initiated a thorough investigation to determine the factors leading to the accident and to implement measures to prevent such occurrences in the future.