Redbird Academy C172 Aircraft Breaks Into 3 Pieces; Instructor & Trainee Pilot Injured

Vijayapura, India: A private training aircraft operated by Redbird Flight Training Academy crash-landed in an open field in Karnataka’s Vijayapura district on Sunday afternoon, leaving the captain and a trainee pilot injured, officials said.

The two-seater aircraft, identified as a Redbird Cessna 172 registered VT-EUC, was on a cross-country training flight from Kalaburagi to Belagavi when it experienced a mid-air malfunction, forcing the pilot to make an emergency landing in a field near Mangaluru village in Babaleshwar taluk.

According to Vijayapura Superintendent of Police Laxman Nimbargi, local farmers and field workers were among the first to respond after the aircraft came down between 2:30 PM and 2:40 PM. Both occupants Captain Kunal Malhotra, an Assistant Flight Instructor, and trainee pilot Goutham Sankar P.R. reportedly managed to exit the aircraft before impact.

The aircraft overturned on landing, with preliminary reports indicating that it broke into 3 pieces upon touching down in the agricultural land. Police and emergency services were quickly on the scene, and a fire engine was deployed as a precaution.

Both pilots sustained injuries in the crash and were promptly airlifted by a 108 ambulance to BLDE Hospital in Vijayapura for treatment. Doctors described their injuries as serious but stable, and neither condition is believed to be life-threatening.

A police source confirmed that no fatalities were reported and that the quick response of local residents helped prevent further harm.

The Civil Aviation Minister said in a statement that fuel starvation or inadequate fuel planning may have contributed to the crash.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has been notified and is expected to lead a detailed investigation into the crash, reviewing aircraft maintenance records, flight planning documentation, and other operational parameters. Aviation safety authorities, including the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) will also investigate the incident. 

The Cessna 172 involved in the incident is reported to be over 50 years old, with its certificate of registration and airworthiness both valid at the time of the accident. Redbird Flight Training Academy, which operates a fleet of training aircraft, holds approval from the DGCA to conduct pilot training operations. 

Redbird’s Previous Training Aircraft Incidents: 

December 8, 2025:  Near Seoni, Madhya Pradesh, a Redbird training aircraft hit a high-voltage power line while preparing to land, crashing into a field and injuring both the instructor and trainee pilot. 

August 9, 2025:  Near Baramati Airport in Pune, a Redbird Flight Training Centre trainer aircraft crash-landed after a tyre issue caused the front wheel to detach on touchdown, the trainee pilot escaped unhurt. 

May 30, 2025:  At the Suktara airstrip in Seoni, Madhya Pradesh, a Redbird Aviation training aircraft overturned during landing, the trainee pilot escaped injury. 

October 19 & 22, 2023:  First incident at Baramati Airfield in Maharashtra, a Redbird Aviation Tecnam P2008JC aircraft (VT-RBC) crashed while carrying out circuit landing training after developing a technical snag, forcing the pilot to make an emergency landing just outside the airfield boundary. The second incident occurred near Baramati, Maharashtra, a Redbird Aviation Tecnam P2008JPC aircraft (VT-RBT), operating a sector training flight with an assistant flight instructor and a student on board, suffered an engine failure and crash-landed, toppling after touchdown.

June 25, 2023:  In Kalaburagi, Karnataka, a Redbird Flight Training Academy two-seater trainer aircraft made an emergency landing on agricultural land after a technical glitch during a training flight, with no casualties.

May 30, 2023: In Honnihala village near Belagavi, a Redbird two-seater trainer aircraft made an emergency crash-landing on farmland due to a technical glitch, and both pilots escaped with minor injuries.