A routine training mission turned into a scene of emergency on Wednesday when a microlight aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF) crashed into a pond in the city of Prayagraj. The incident, triggered by a suspected engine failure, sent rescue teams scrambling to the site behind KP Inter College.
According to preliminary details from the armed forces, the aircraft experienced technical issues mid-air. Eyewitness accounts describe a harrowing sight of the small propeller plane circling uncertainly for some time before losing balance and plunging into the water body. A plume of thick smoke reportedly billowed from the impact site, prompting immediate reaction from locals who rushed to offer assistance.
"The aircraft appeared to shake and then suddenly went down into the pond. We ran towards it to see if we could help," recounted one eyewitness.
Official rescue operations were swiftly launched. Teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), local fire services, and police cordoned off the area and began efforts to secure the wreckage. In a significant relief, the IAF confirmed that both crew members on board survived the crash and are safe. The cause of the engine failure is yet to be officially determined, and an investigation is expected to follow.
This incident echoes a similar crash in November last year, when an IAF 'Pilatus PC-7' trainer aircraft went down near Tambaram in Chennai during a training sortie. In that event, the pilot had ejected safely. The IAF had promptly constituted a Court of Inquiry to ascertain the cause.
The repeat of such an incident, albeit with a different aircraft type, is likely to bring renewed focus on training protocols and aircraft maintenance procedures. Following the Chennai crash, the IAF had stated on social media platform X: *"An Indian Air Force PC-7 Mk II trainer aircraft met with an accident during a routine training mission... The pilot ejected safely... A Court of Inquiry has been constituted to ascertain the cause of the accident."*
As authorities in Prayagraj work to recover the aircraft and investigate the precise sequence of events, the safe ejection of the crew members stands as a testament to emergency training and a fortunate outcome in what could have been an unmitigated tragedy. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the inherent risks involved in military aviation, even during routine operations.
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