Trainee pilot and instructor die after twin-engine aircraft operated by Garg Aviation crashes during local training flight

Key Highlights

• Tecnam P2006T aircraft VT-NBV crashed near Ganga Barrage, around 5 NM from Kanpur Civil Airport.
• Aircraft was operated by Garg Aviation Ltd., Kanpur.
• Two people—a trainee pilot and an instructor—were on board and both sustained fatal injuries.
• The aircraft was conducting a training flight in Kanpur Civil Airport’s Local Flying Area.
• DGCA has deployed officials for regulatory oversight and coordination.
• Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) will conduct a detailed investigation to determine the circumstances and cause.

Training aircraft crashes near Kanpur

Kanpur: A Tecnam P2006T twin-engine aircraft operated by Garg Aviation Ltd. crashed near the Ganga Barrage in Kanpur on the afternoon of August 27, 2026, according to preliminary information released by the Government of India.

The aircraft, bearing registration VT-NBV, was approximately 5 nautical miles from Kanpur Civil Airport when the accident occurred.

The aircraft was undertaking a training flight within the Local Flying Area of Kanpur Civil Airport.

Two people on board killed

There were two people aboard the aircraft—a trainee pilot and an instructor. Both sustained fatal injuries in the accident.

The incident involves a training operation, with the circumstances leading to the crash yet to be established.

DGCA team sent to accident site

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has initiated regulatory oversight following the accident.

A team of three DGCA officials is proceeding to the accident site to coordinate the necessary regulatory response.

The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has also been informed and will conduct a detailed investigation in accordance with applicable rules.

The cause and circumstances of the accident will be established through the investigation.

Aviation safety investigation underway

The preliminary information does not establish a cause for the accident. The detailed AAIB investigation is expected to examine the circumstances surrounding the training flight and other relevant operational and technical factors before drawing conclusions.

The incident comes amid continued efforts by India’s aviation authorities to strengthen oversight and safety standards across flight training and general aviation operations.

Impact on aviation training and travel

While the accident involved a training flight rather than a scheduled passenger service, incidents involving flight-training aircraft can have implications for India’s aviation training ecosystem.

Flight schools and training organisations remain an important part of India’s expanding aviation sector, particularly as demand for trained pilots grows.

For the wider travel and tourism industry, the immediate impact is limited because the aircraft was not operating a commercial passenger service. However, maintaining strong flight-training safety, regulatory oversight and aircraft maintenance standards remains important to sustaining confidence in India’s broader aviation ecosystem.

The final findings of the AAIB investigation will be important in determining whether any operational, technical, training or regulatory lessons emerge from the accident.