Archive · 27 Aug 2026
Two Pilots Killed in Kanpur Training Aircraft Crash
A small training airplane crashed in a field near the Ganga River in Kanpur.
It had two people on board: a flight instructor and a student pilot.
The instructor was Sachin Bhatia from Gujarat, and the student was Abhishek Pujari from Karnataka.
Both people died in the crash.
Police said the plane took off at about 11:30 a.m.
and crashed about 20 minutes later while returning.
Rescue workers and police went to the site and secured the area.
Some officials said the plane may have lost control, but the exact reason is not known.
Aviation investigators will study the crash to find out what happened.
A twin-engine, four-seater Tecnam training aircraft crashed in a field near the Ganga in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh.
Instructor pilot Sachin Bhatia of Gujarat and trainee pilot Abhishek Pujari of Karnataka were killed.
The aircraft took off from Garg Aviation Training Centre at about 11:30 a.m. and crashed around 11:50 a.m. while returning, according to police.
Emergency services and police cordoned off the site, removed the bodies, and began rescue and investigative operations.
The cause remains undetermined; the Directorate General of Civil Aviation has been informed and is expected to conduct a technical investigation.
- Who
- Instructor Sachin Bhatia of Gujarat and trainee pilot Abhishek Pujari of Karnataka were killed.
- What
- A twin-engine, four-seater Tecnam training aircraft crashed, killing both occupants.
- When
- Thursday, August 27, 2026; police said the aircraft crashed at about 11:50 a.m. after taking off around 11:30 a.m.
- Where
- In a field near the Ganga River, around Nattha Khera or Natthapurwa village in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh.
- Why
- The cause has not been established; possible loss of control, technical failure, and other circumstances are under investigation.
Preliminary Assessment
Official Investigation
Possible cause
Preliminary Assessment
Officials said the aircraft apparently lost control before crashing, and one report said a possible in-flight explosion and technical failure were being examined.
Official Investigation
Police and aviation authorities have not established a cause and said the Directorate General of Civil Aviation will conduct a detailed investigation.
Timing and location descriptions
Preliminary Assessment
Reports variously described the crash as occurring on Thursday morning or afternoon and placed it near Nattha Khera, Natha Purva, or Natthapurwa.
Official Investigation
Police provided a more specific account: the aircraft departed around 11:30 a.m. and crashed around 11:50 a.m. in a field near the Ganga.
- Aircraft
- Tecnam twin-engine, four-seater training aircraft
- Operator
- Garg Aviation Training Centre
- Instructor
- Sachin Bhatia, a Gujarat resident
- Trainee
- Abhishek Pujari, a Karnataka resident
- Flight timing
- Took off around 11:30 a.m.; crashed around 11:50 a.m., according to police
- Crash location
- A field near the Ganga banks in the Nattha Khera/Natthapurwa area of Kanpur
- Investigation
- Police have secured the site; the Directorate General of Civil Aviation is expected to conduct a detailed technical investigation
