A 22-year-old trainee pilot was seriously injured after being struck by the rotating propeller of a training aircraft following a night instructional flight at Chakeri Airport in Kanpur, prompting the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to order an investigation into the incident and take immediate action against the aircraft and instructor involved.
The accident occurred at around 11:15 pm on June 28 at the Flying Training Organisation (FTO) operated by Garg Aviation at Chakeri Airport in Uttar Pradesh.
According to the DGCA, the aircraft involved was a Tecnam P2006T twin-engine trainer bearing registration VT-NBV, which had been conducting a scheduled night instructional training sortie. The aircraft was carrying one flight instructor and one female cadet pilot.
Preliminary information indicates the trainee pilot exited the aircraft while at least one engine may have remained running. As she moved away from the aircraft, she came into contact with the still-rotating propeller, sustaining serious injuries after coming into contact with the rotating propeller.
The injured trainee was immediately rushed to a hospital in Kanpur, where she continues to receive treatment. Authorities have not officially disclosed her identity or released an update on her medical condition. However, multiple media reports identified her as a 22-year-old trainee pilot from New Delhi.
The incident has raised serious concerns over adherence to ground safety procedures during flight training operations, particularly during night sorties when spinning propellers can be difficult to detect. Following the incident, the DGCA initiated a formal investigation into the circumstances surrounding the accident.
A spinning propeller can become nearly invisible, particularly at night or under low-light conditions, making strict compliance with engine shutdown procedures and safe deboarding practices essential.
The DGCA investigation is expected to determine whether established safety protocols were breached and whether additional corrective measures are required for flying training organisations across the country.
