Training Flight Turns Tense: Aircraft Overturns at Madhya Pradesh Airstrip

A trainer aircraft operated by Redbird Aviation Pvt. Ltd. overturned during a landing attempt at the Suktara airstrip in Seoni district on Friday morning. The aircraft was being flown solo by a trainee woman pilot, who fortunately escaped unhurt.(mint)

According to preliminary reports, the incident occurred due to a faulty landing technique. Officials suggest that the trainee pilot may have attempted to land the aircraft using the front landing gear instead of the rear, causing the plane to lose balance and flip over on the runway. (Indian Defence Research Wing)

The Suktara airstrip, located approximately 22 kilometers from Seoni district headquarters, is maintained by the Madhya Pradesh Public Works Department and is utilized by Delhi-based Redbird Aviation for pilot training operations.(The Tribune)

In the immediate aftermath of the incident, Redbird Aviation staff reportedly emptied the aircraft’s fuel tank to prevent any potential fire hazards. Notably, the company did not inform local police authorities about the accident. Instead, they notified the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) office in Bhopal, which subsequently alerted the police. (Indian Defence Research Wing, The Tribune)

District Collector Sanskriti Jain has ordered an official inquiry to determine the exact cause of the accident. A DGCA team is expected to visit the site for a detailed inspection and will prepare a comprehensive report. (Indian Defence Research Wing, Vartha Bharathi)

As a precautionary measure, all training flights from the Suktara airstrip have been temporarily suspended pending the outcome of the investigation.

This incident adds to a series of recent accidents involving training aircraft in India. In April 2025, a trainee pilot tragically lost his life when a trainer aircraft crashed in a residential area of Amreli district, Gujarat. (The Economic Times)