Kanpur: Woman Trainee Pilot Struck by Aircraft Propeller While Deboarding, DGCA Launches Probe
A woman cadet pilot was critically injured after being struck by the spinning propeller of a training aircraft at Kanpur's Chakeri Airport during a night training exercise. The DGCA has grounded the aircraft, off-rostered the flight instructor and launched an investigation into the incident, which occurred after the trainee deboarded while the aircraft's engines were still running.
A woman cadet pilot sustained critical injuries after she was struck by the spinning propeller of a training aircraft moments after deboarding during a night instructional flight at Kanpur's Chakeri Airport. Following the incident, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has grounded the aircraft involved, off-rostered the flight instructor and launched an investigation into the safety lapse.
The incident occurred around 11:15 pm on Friday, June 26, at Garg Aviation's flying training organisation, where a twin-engine Tecnam P2006T aircraft was conducting a night training sortie. The aviation regulator is investigating the sequence of events that led to the accident. IAF Plane Crash: AN-32 Aircraft Bursts Into Flames After Landing at Jorhat Air Force Station In Assam, Killing 5 Personnel (Watch Videos).
Trainee Struck After Deboarding Aircraft
According to the DGCA, the Tecnam P2006T aircraft, registered as VT-NBV, had a flight instructor and a woman trainee pilot on board during the instructional flight.
After landing, the trainee deboarded the aircraft while its engines were still running. As she moved away from the aircraft, the rotating propeller struck her on the back, leaving her with grievous injuries. IAF AN-32 Transport Aircraft Crashes and Catches Fire While Landing at Assam’s Jorhat Air Force Station, Video Surfaces.
She was immediately taken to a hospital in Kanpur, where she remains admitted. The DGCA has not released further details about her medical condition.
Following the incident, the DGCA removed the instructor involved from flying training duties pending completion of the investigation. "The involved instructor has been off rostered from the flying training duties pending investigation," the regulator said.
The DGCA also directed that there would be "no utilisation of the aircraft involved in the occurrence pending investigation." The Tecnam P2006T aircraft involved in the accident has been grounded until the inquiry is completed.
The DGCA described the occurrence as a ground collision involving the Garg Aviation aircraft and a trainee pilot. Investigators are examining the circumstances under which the trainee exited the aircraft while its engines and propellers were still operating, along with the sequence of events that led to the accident. The findings of the inquiry will determine whether any safety protocols were breached and if further regulatory action is required.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 28, 2026 06:10 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
