aircrash Archives - Aviation Today

13 Killed After Aerodiana Plane Crashes Near Peru’s Nazca Lines; Probe Underway

Aviation Today News Desk / August 3, 2026

Nazca, Peru: All 13 people aboard an Aerodiana sightseeing flight were killed after a Cessna Caravan C-208 (Grand Caravan) crashed

Goldsby, United States: Two people were killed after a small aircraft crashed into a field and caught fire shortly after taking off from a private airfield in McClain County, Oklahoma, prompting an investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). The accident occurred on the afternoon of June 29 near East Cottonwood Road in Goldsby, approximately 30 miles south of Oklahoma City. Emergency responders from the Oklahoma Highway Patrol (OHP), local fire departments and other agencies rushed to the scene after receiving reports of a plane crash. According to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, the aircraft had departed from Paradise Air Haven Airport, a privately owned airfield near Goldsby, when it encountered difficulties shortly after takeoff. OHP Lt. Mark Southall said preliminary information gathered from witnesses indicated the aircraft failed to climb as expected. "Witnesses reported the aircraft did not gain enough altitude after takeoff before descending into a nearby field," Southall said. The aircraft crashed into a pasture near East Cottonwood Road before erupting into flames. First responders found the wreckage engulfed in fire. Authorities confirmed that both occupants died at the scene. No injuries were reported on the ground. Officials have not yet publicly released the identities of the two victims, pending notification of their families. The FAA and the NTSB have launched separate investigations into the accident. The FAA is assisting with the initial investigation, while the NTSB will lead the inquiry and determine the probable cause of the crash. Investigators are expected to examine the aircraft wreckage, pilot qualifications, maintenance records, weather conditions, operational history and witness statements as part of the investigation.

Aircraft Crashes

Two Killed As Small Plane Crashes And Burns After Takeoff In Oklahoma’s McClain County

Aviation Today News Desk / July 1, 2026

Goldsby, United States: Two people were killed after a small aircraft crashed into a field and caught fire shortly after

Kasganj, India: A trainee pilot survived after a Cessna 152 trainer aircraft operated by Chetak Aviation made an emergency landing and crash-landed in a field near an expressway in Uttar Pradesh's Kasganj district on June 29, prompting an investigation by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). The aircraft, registered as VT-AFB, had departed from Aligarh Airport on a solo training sortie with only the trainee pilot on board. According to the DGCA, the flight was part of a routine solo training exercise when the aircraft encountered an emergency, forcing the pilot to carry out a precautionary landing in an open field near an under-construction expressway in Kasganj. The trainee pilot has been identified by multiple local media reports as aged 28 years. Chetak Aviation confirmed that she had accumulated the required flying hours to undertake solo flights and had been training with the flying training organisation for over a year. According to the flying school, the aircraft took off from Aligarh at approximately 1:05 p.m., while the emergency occurred at around 3:00–4:00 p.m. near Kasganj. Soon after exiting the aircraft, the trainee pilot contacted the academy to report the occurrence, following which local police and emergency responders were alerted. The DGCA, in its official statement, said, "Chetak Aviation Cessna 152 aircraft VT-AFB engaged in solo flying at Aligarh has crash landed in a field in Kasganj. She (trainee pilot) is reported to be safe. DGCA is investigating the occurrence." Chetak Aviation stated that the aircraft came down beside the expressway and that the pilot remained safe. Kasganj Police said she was taken to a local hospital for medical examination and her condition was stable. The exact cause of the emergency landing has not yet been established. Initial reports indicate that the aircraft experienced a technical snag while airborne, compelling the pilot to attempt a forced landing. The flying training organisation said it would determine the cause only after examining the aircraft and speaking with the trainee pilot. Eyewitnesses reported seeing the aircraft descend rapidly before coming to rest in a field adjacent to the roadway. Some local reports claimed the aircraft may have struck overhead power lines before landing, although this has not been confirmed by the DGCA. The crash site drew large crowds of local residents, while police officials quickly secured the area and facilitated the pilot's evacuation. Photographs and videos circulating online showed the aircraft lying on its side with visible damage to one wing and the rear fuselage after skidding off the landing area. Following the occurrence, the DGCA initiated a formal investigation to determine the circumstances that led to the emergency landing. According to subsequent reports, all training flights operated by Chetak Aviation have been suspended until the investigation is completed. The incident marks the second trainer aircraft occurrence in Uttar Pradesh within four days. On June 26, a trainee pilot sustained serious injuries at Kanpur's Chakeri Airport after disembarking from a Tecnam P2006T trainer aircraft operated by Garg Aviation while its engine was still running and was struck by the rotating propeller. That incident is also under investigation by the DGCA.

Aircraft Crashes

Trainee Pilot Survives Cessna 152 Crash Landing Near Expressway During Solo Flight

Aviation Today News Desk / July 1, 2026

Kasganj, India: A trainee pilot survived after a Cessna 152 trainer aircraft operated by Chetak Aviation made an emergency landing

Fochville, South Africa: Two people were killed after a Bird Aviation training aircraft crashed near Fochville in South Africa's Gauteng province on Saturday afternoon, with aviation authorities launching an investigation into the cause of the accident. Bird Aviation confirmed that one of its aircraft was involved in the accident at approximately 4:00 p.m. local time on June 27. The academy said emergency services responded immediately and the relevant aviation authorities were notified in accordance with regulatory requirements. In an official media release, the flight school said the circumstances surrounding the crash remain under investigation and that no additional details can be released until investigators have completed their work. The academy stated that the families of the aviators had been informed and extended its condolences to those affected by what it described as a devastating loss. Bird Aviation also said it would withhold the identities of the occupants until all required family notifications had been completed and the necessary permissions had been granted. South African emergency response agencies, including ER24, Netcare911 and Gauteng Emergency Medical Services, responded to the crash after the Aeronautical Rescue Coordination Centre activated its emergency response network. Both occupants of the aircraft were found to have sustained fatal injuries. Following recovery operations, the crash site was handed over to the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA), which has opened an official investigation into the accident. Bird Aviation said it is fully cooperating with investigators and will continue assisting the relevant authorities, including SACAA, SAPS and the appropriate consulate. The academy also thanked emergency medical personnel, first responders, law enforcement agencies and aviation authorities for their professionalism and support during the response. Authorities have not yet disclosed the aircraft's planned route, the circumstances leading to the crash or a possible cause. As of June 29, the identities of the two people killed have not been publicly released. Separately sources indicated that the deceased were Indian nationals; however, Aviation Today has been unable to independently verify their identities at the time of publication. According to Gulte, one of the victims was N. Charan Teja, a Telugu trainee pilot from Andhra Pradesh, India, who was undergoing flight training at Bird Aviation in South Africa. The report said Teja had moved to South Africa to pursue his dream of becoming a commercial pilot and was among the two occupants killed in the June 27 crash near Fochville. However, South African authorities and Bird Aviation had not officially confirmed the identities of the victims at the time of publication. The aircraft involved was a Piper PA-28-180 Cherokee C, registered ZS-ESZ, although investigators have not yet issued an official preliminary report. The investigation remains ongoing.

Aircraft Crashes

Two Killed After Bird Aviation Training Aircraft Crashes In South Africa, Probe Underway

Aviation Today News Desk / June 29, 2026

Fochville, South Africa: Two people were killed after a Bird Aviation training aircraft crashed near Fochville in South Africa’s Gauteng

Bowie, United States: Three people were killed after a single-engine Piper PA-28-181 Archer II crashed into a wooded area near a residential neighborhood and playground in Bowie, Maryland, late on June 20, prompting a multi-agency overnight search and a federal investigation into the cause of the accident. According to Maryland State Police (MSP), the aircraft went down at approximately 11:30 p.m. local time in a wooded section of Archer Park near Scarlett Oak Court, just east of Washington, D.C. The aircraft, identified as a Piper PA-28-181 Archer II bearing registration N249WF, was operating a flight from Ocean City, New Jersey, to Montgomery County Airpark in Gaithersburg, Maryland. Authorities said the aircraft was believed to be associated with a Montgomery County-based flight school named Washington International Flight Academy and may have been conducting a training flight at the time of the accident. All three occupants onboard the pilot and two adult passengers were fatally injured. Emergency medical personnel pronounced them dead at the scene. Authorities have not yet publicly released their identities pending notification of next of kin. The crash occurred only a short distance from homes in a townhouse community and near a neighborhood playground. No injuries were reported among residents on the ground. "We are very fortunate that nobody else was injured in this crash," Maryland State Police spokesperson Elena Russo said during a press briefing. "Of course, it's an absolute tragedy that we've lost three individuals in this incident, but we're also very fortunate that nobody else in the neighboring residential area was hurt." A large-scale search operation was immediately launched involving Maryland State Police, Prince George's County Police Department, Anne Arundel County Police Department, Bowie city officials, and Prince George's County Fire and EMS personnel. Ground units and aviation assets searched through the night before locating the wreckage at approximately 3:45 a.m. on June 21. Officials said darkness, dense vegetation, and the absence of eyewitness reports complicated search efforts and delayed the discovery of the aircraft. Residents living near the crash site reported hearing a loud boom shortly before midnight. Some initially believed the sound was fireworks or distant thunder. Photographs and video from the scene showed debris scattered across a wooded area, with some wreckage reportedly landing near a playground and in residential backyards. "It was an absolutely tragic incident," Russo said. "It could have been even worse because of the proximity to a town home community in Bowie." Aviation enthusiasts familiar with local flight operations also assisted in narrowing down the aircraft's last known location using publicly available flight-tracking data. One flight instructor told local media that he and several others followed the aircraft's final radar track into the wooded area while first responders were searching for the wreckage. At present, investigators have not identified a cause for the crash. Authorities have not disclosed whether the pilot reported any emergency or technical difficulties before the accident. Online flight-tracking enthusiasts have suggested the aircraft may have transmitted a 7700 emergency squawk and experienced a loss of altitude before impact. However, those observations have not been confirmed by investigators and remain unofficial. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) have opened a formal investigation. The NTSB is leading the inquiry and is expected to examine the aircraft's maintenance history, pilot qualifications, weather conditions, flight track data, air traffic communications, and wreckage evidence. An NTSB investigator was expected to arrive at the crash site on June 21. Federal investigators have indicated that no preliminary conclusions regarding the cause of the accident are available at this stage. The wreckage remains secured as investigators continue documenting evidence and reconstructing the aircraft's final moments.

Aircraft Crashes

Three Killed After Piper PA-28 Archer II Crashes Near Maryland Homes; NTSB Probe

Aviation Today News Desk / June 22, 2026

Bowie, United States: Three people were killed after a single-engine Piper PA-28-181 Archer II crashed into a wooded area near

Aircraft Crashes

Five IAF Personnel Killed In AN-32 Crash During Landing At Jorhat Air Base, One Survives

Aviation Today News Desk / June 15, 2026

Jorhat, India: Five Indian Air Force (IAF) personnel were killed after an Antonov AN-32 military transport aircraft crashed while attempting

La Romana, Dominican Republic: Two crew members were killed after a private jet crashed while attempting an emergency landing at La Romana International Airport in the Dominican Republic on June 7, authorities confirmed. According to the Dominican Institute of Civil Aviation (IDAC), the aircraft involved was a U.S.-registered Gulfstream G200 executive jet operating a flight from La Romana to Austin, Texas. The aircraft was carrying only the pilot and co-pilot, with no passengers onboard. Preliminary information indicates the flight experienced a technical problem shortly after departure and requested to return to La Romana International Airport. Reports from local authorities suggest the crew declared an emergency while the aircraft was approximately 16 nautical miles southwest of the airport before turning back toward the airfield. Video footage circulating on social media shows the jet touching down during the emergency landing attempt before skidding along the runway. The aircraft then appeared to bounce and veer out of control before erupting into a large fireball. The impact and subsequent fire destroyed much of the aircraft. Both crew members sustained fatal injuries. Authorities have not yet publicly released their identities. Emergency response teams, including airport firefighters and rescue personnel, were dispatched immediately to the scene. Airport operations were temporarily suspended while emergency crews worked at the crash site and investigators began documenting evidence. Initial statements from officials indicate the aircraft encountered a malfunction before the attempted landing. Puerto Rico Department of Public Safety Secretary Arturo Garffer told local media that the aircraft had experienced problems during the landing phase, though he stressed that information remains preliminary pending a full investigation. The aircraft reportedly came down within the airport perimeter after losing stability during the emergency landing sequence. Images and video from the scene showed extensive fire damage and wreckage scattered near the runway area. The Gulfstream G200 is a twin-engine business jet capable of carrying between eight and 18 occupants depending on cabin configuration. The Dominican Civil Aviation Board and IDAC have launched an investigation to determine the exact cause of the accident. Investigators are expected to examine the aircraft's maintenance history, technical condition, flight data, communications with air traffic control, and the circumstances surrounding the reported malfunction. At the time of publication, authorities had not released the aircraft registration number, the names of the crew members, or any preliminary findings regarding the cause of the crash. The investigation remains ongoing.

Aircraft Crashes

Private Jet Crash During Emergency Landing Attempt Kills Pilot And Co-Pilot Onboard

Aviation Today News Desk / June 8, 2026

La Romana, Dominican Republic: Two crew members were killed after a private jet crashed while attempting an emergency landing at

Valbrembo, Italy: A routine flight training exercise ended in tragedy on June 1 when a Cessna 152 operated by flight school Cantor Air crashed near Valbrembo Airport in northern Italy, killing instructor Daniel Taino and leaving a 19-year-old student pilot critically injured. The two-seat training aircraft came down shortly after 4 p.m. local time in Via Don Bosco, a residential area near the airfield in Valbrembo, west of Bergamo. Witnesses reported seeing the aircraft flying at low altitude before it struck electrical infrastructure and crashed between homes, narrowly avoiding a far more serious disaster on the ground. Taino, 26, a resident of Pianengo in Italy's Cremona province, died at the scene. The student pilot, a 19-year-old from Milan, sustained severe injuries and was transported by emergency responders to Papa Giovanni XXIII Hospital in Bergamo, where he remained in critical condition. According to Italian media reports, the aircraft was conducting a local instructional flight involving touch-and-go training maneuvers. The crew had been operating in the vicinity of the River Brembo and the Valbrembo airfield when the aircraft encountered difficulties. Several eyewitnesses described seeing the aircraft rapidly lose altitude moments before impact. One witness, who was working nearby, rushed to the wreckage after hearing cries for help from the trapped student. Emergency services, firefighters, law enforcement personnel and medical teams responded within minutes. Investigators are examining whether the aircraft experienced an engine-related problem before the crash. However, authorities have emphasized that the cause remains undetermined pending a full investigation. The aircraft involved was identified as a Cessna 152, one of the most widely used training aircraft in general aviation. Preliminary reports indicate the aircraft may have been attempting to return toward the airfield when it struck power infrastructure and crashed near residential properties. Cantor Air, an ENAC-approved flight training organization operating from the Valbrembo area, confirmed its connection to the flight through tributes paid to Taino following the accident. Colleagues and students from the school gathered at the crash site after the tragedy. Friends and fellow aviators described Taino as a passionate young pilot who had transformed a lifelong ambition into a professional flying career. Reports indicate he had recently begun working as a flight instructor after completing his own pilot training and had been instructing students for approximately five months. Italian aviation safety investigators from ANSV, together with local prosecutors and technical specialists, have secured the crash site and launched a formal investigation. Authorities are expected to examine the aircraft's maintenance history, flight path, witness accounts and any available operational data before determining the cause of the accident.

Aircraft Crashes

Instructor Killed, Student Critically Injured After Cessna 152 Hits Power Lines In Italy

Aviation Today News Desk / June 3, 2026

Valbrembo, Italy: A routine flight training exercise ended in tragedy on June 1 when a Cessna 152 operated by flight

US Navy

Two U.S. Navy EA-18G Growlers Collide Mid-Air During Idaho Air Show; All 4 Survived

Aviation Today News Desk / May 18, 2026

Idaho, United States: Two U.S. Navy EA-18G Growler electronic warfare aircraft collided mid-air during an aerial demonstration at the Gunfighter

Investigation

AAIB Flags Safety Lapses In Pawan Hans Helicopter Crash That Killed 1, Injured 4

Aviation Today News Desk / April 6, 2026

Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India: India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has identified multiple safety lapses in the Pawan Hans

aircrash

13 Killed After Aerodiana Plane Crashes Near Peru’s Nazca Lines; Probe Underway

Two Killed As Small Plane Crashes And Burns After Takeoff In Oklahoma’s McClain County

Trainee Pilot Survives Cessna 152 Crash Landing Near Expressway During Solo Flight

Two Killed After Bird Aviation Training Aircraft Crashes In South Africa, Probe Underway

Three Killed After Piper PA-28 Archer II Crashes Near Maryland Homes; NTSB Probe

Five IAF Personnel Killed In AN-32 Crash During Landing At Jorhat Air Base, One Survives

Private Jet Crash During Emergency Landing Attempt Kills Pilot And Co-Pilot Onboard

Instructor Killed, Student Critically Injured After Cessna 152 Hits Power Lines In Italy

Two U.S. Navy EA-18G Growlers Collide Mid-Air During Idaho Air Show; All 4 Survived

AAIB Flags Safety Lapses In Pawan Hans Helicopter Crash That Killed 1, Injured 4

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