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Pretoria, South Africa: A routine training flight turned fatal on Thursday evening, 19 February 2026, when a light aircraft crashed in the rural Klipgat area of Sofasonke township in the North West Province, killing both the flight instructor and the student pilot on board. The aircraft, operated by Excellentia Airline Academy, went down shortly before 6 p.m., triggering its emergency locator transmitter (ELT) and drawing an immediate response from rescue teams. Emergency responders including the Aeronautical Rescue Coordination Centre (ARCC), paramedics, police and aviation investigators reached the crash site within minutes. Despite swift efforts, both occupants were pronounced dead at the scene. Initial field reports have not confirmed a specific cause but early indications suggest that the aircraft may have experienced mechanical difficulties or sudden weather changes, but a full investigation by the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) is underway to determine the exact cause. Witnesses in the area reported hearing a loud roar in the sky around sunset, followed by smoke rising from the wreckage. The light fixed-wing trainer, a Sling 2 aircraft used for pilot instruction, was on a standard sortie when it went down with only the two pilots on board. Police later confirmed the age of the occupants as 28 and 24 respectively. In an official statement issued after the crash, Excellentia Airline Academy confirmed that one of its training aircraft was involved and that the academy was “devastated by this tragic loss.” The statement noted that it received notification from the ARCC shortly after 6 p.m., and that the SACAA had confirmed the fatalities. “Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with the families, loved ones, colleagues and fellow students affected by this tragedy,” the academy said. The academy also stated it is fully cooperating with SACAA and other authorities in the ongoing investigation, and requested that speculation regarding the cause be avoided while investigators carry out their work. It added that, “Out of respect for the families, we will not be releasing the names of those involved,” and that support services are being provided to academy staff and students. Family members and community residents gathered near the crash site on Friday, laying floral tributes and paying their respects. Relatives described both young men as passionate about aviation and committed to achieving their professional goals. A relative of the 24-year-old student said his family was “devastated and in shock,” remembering him as a diligent learner with dreams of becoming a commercial pilot. A neighbour of the instructor spoke of him as a committed mentor to younger aspiring pilots in the region. The SACAA has begun detailed investigations, gathering wreckage evidence, flight plans, witness testimony and any available electrical or onboard flight data. A preliminary report is expected to be issued within 30 days of the occurrence, as per regulatory protocol. Flight Training School Incidents in South Africa: 04 February, 2026: A Piper Cherokee 140 (ZS‑XPR) training aircraft departing from Grand Central Airport crashed near Carstenhof Hospital in Glen Austin, Midrand during a training flight. Both the flight instructor and the student pilot on board suffered serious injuries and were rushed to hospital, and the aircraft was substantially damaged. 26 October, 2025: During a morning training flight, a light aircraft suffered engine failure and attempted an emergency landing in a school field, veering into a tuckshop of Hoërskool Alberton in the City of Ekurhuleni, Gauteng. Both the instructor and student escaped unharmed. 15 October, 2025: Two training aircraft from Aviation Junction Flying School in Secunda, Mpumalanga, took off on routine flights over the KwaZulu‑Natal Midlands. Both aircraft Sling 2 types encountered poor weather with heavy mist and low visibility, lost contact with radio and radar, and later crashed in separate locations near Nottingham Road and Pietermaritzburg. The 26‑year‑old Indian trainee pilot Mayank Prajapati and 35‑year‑old South African pilot Martin Brown were killed in the twin crashes, prompting intensified calls for safety reforms in South Africa’s flight‑training sector. 13 October, 2025: A tragic training accident claimed the life of 20‑year‑old Piyush Pushp, a student from Ranchi, India, while he was undergoing solo flight training at the Vulcan Aviation Institute in Johannesburg. During the solo sortie, the light training aircraft reportedly suffered a sudden technical malfunction mid‑air, leading to a crash shortly after take‑off. 10 June, 2025: The aircraft, operated by Eagle Air Flight School, was part of a trio of light planes flying in a loose formation from an airstrip near Durban toward Pretoria. The group encountered severe weather, including low visibility and turbulence, which led them to divert from their planned refuelling stop in Ladysmith toward Greytown & crashed. Airport emergency responders arrived but all three pilots were killed.

Instructor, Student Pilot Killed In South Africa Training Crash As Safety Concerns Mount

Aviation Today News Desk / February 21, 2026

Pretoria, South Africa: A routine training flight turned fatal on Thursday evening, 19 February 2026, when a light aircraft crashed […]

New Orleans, United States: The United States Coast Guard has officially suspended its search for two pilots missing after a small training aircraft crashed into Lake Pontchartrain earlier this week. Authorities ended active operations after nearly 45 hours of continuous air and water searches, covering more than 770 square miles, with no survivors found. Coast Guard officials said the decision was made after all reasonable search efforts were exhausted. The aircraft, a Cessna 172 operated by Apollo Flight Training of Gulfport, Mississippi, was conducting a training flight on Monday evening when it disappeared from radar about four miles from New Orleans Lakefront Airport. The flight was carrying a female instructor and a male student, working toward commercial aviation careers. According to company owner Michael Carastro, the instructor and student were both in their mid-20s. The instructor reportedly had accumulated around 1,300 flight hours roughly 200 hours shy of the threshold required to qualify for airline duty. The student had been pursuing his commercial and instrument rating. Carastro emphasised that the aircraft was regularly maintained and “up to regulation standards,” and said there was no distress call before contact was lost. He called the crash “an unbelievable tragedy,” noting that in his decades-long experience as a pilot and instructor, he had never before encountered anything like this. Search crews earlier recovered limited debris, including parts believed to be from the aircraft. No distress call was received before radar contact was lost. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will investigate the crash once additional wreckage is located. The flight school has stated that the aircraft was properly maintained and had no known mechanical issues prior to departure.

Aircraft Crashes

US Coast Guard Suspends Search For Two Missing Pilots In Lake Pontchartrain Crash

Aviation Today News Desk / November 27, 2025

New Orleans, United States: The United States Coast Guard has officially suspended its search for two pilots missing after a

Gulfport, United States: A small instructional aircraft from Apollo Flight Training and Aircraft Management plunged into Lake Pontchartrain Monday night after losing contact with air traffic controllers, authorities and the flight-school owner said. Two people on board a flight instructor and a student working toward their commercial license are presumed dead. The aircraft, a single-engine Cessna, departed from Million Air in Gulfport around 5:45 p.m. Monday, bound for a training approach to New Orleans Lakefront Airport. Radio contact was lost around 6:23–6:40 p.m., roughly four miles offshore over the lake. Search efforts by the United States Coast Guard (USCG), along with local agencies including wildlife and fisheries and parish sheriff’s offices, began shortly after the plane disappeared from radar. A MH-60 helicopter and a 29-foot Coast Guard boat were deployed from the New Orleans station. During the overnight search, crews recovered debris believed to belong to the aircraft including what appeared to be a seat cushion, and later what may have been part of the landing gear. Divers also reported a sonar hit in the search area, and teams observed water discoloration consistent with a crash. The owner of Apollo Flight Training, Michael Carastro, described the crash as “an unimaginable tragedy.” He confirmed the debris matched distinctive characteristics of their Cessna, and said based on maintenance and inspection records, mechanical failure appears unlikely. He also stated no distress call was received prior to the crash. Carastro noted the instructor aboard was “highly qualified,” with between 1,200 and 1,300 flight hours, and the student was working toward a commercial/instrument rating. He added that flying over water, particularly at night, carries additional risks: “you don’t have clear horizons, you get vertigo,” making spatial disorientation a possibility. But Carastro refrained from speculating on the cause until investigators completed their work. At present, the wreckage has not been recovered. The USCG, local agencies, and volunteer organizations continue search operations. Investigations by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have been initiated; authorities emphasize it is premature to draw conclusions about the cause of the crash.

Aircraft Crashes

Instructor, Student Feared Dead After Apollo Cessna Crashes In Lake Pontchartrain

Aviation Today News Desk / November 26, 2025

Gulfport, United States: A small instructional aircraft from Apollo Flight Training and Aircraft Management plunged into Lake Pontchartrain Monday night

Dublin, Ireland: European budget airline Wizz Air has announced an ambitious recruitment and training campaign to prepare up to 1,200 new pilots by 2028, including 240 UK-based cadets, as part of its long-term growth strategy to expand its fleet and secure a steady supply of trained flight crew. The Budapest-headquartered carrier, which operates one of Europe’s youngest fleets, unveiled the initiative through its Wizz Air Pilot Academy, targeting both aspiring aviators and mid-career professionals with no prior flying experience. According to Wizz Air, the recruitment process begins with a six-month selection phase, followed by approximately two years of structured flight training. Successful graduates will then join the airline as Airbus A320/321 First Officers, flying across its extensive European and Middle Eastern network. The programme features an improved financial scheme for tuition fees for successful cadets, although participants are expected to meet certain entry conditions, including holding the right to live and work in one of Wizz Air’s operational base countries. Trainees must also be at least 18 years old, fluent in English, and capable of swimming 50 metres unaided Though Wizz Air currently does not operate commercial flights to or from Ireland, its participation in events such as Pilot Careers Live Dublin reflects its intention to expand its visibility and recruit skilled candidates from Ireland’s established aviation ecosystem. Interested candidates can apply through the airline’s official careers portal careers.wizzair.com by selecting the “Pilot Academy” section. Applicants will undergo a multi-stage assessment process, including aptitude testing, interviews, and simulator evaluations designed to identify candidates with the potential to succeed as professional airline pilots. The academy offers guidance throughout the application process, including access to partner flight schools and approved training organizations (ATOs) that deliver the structured modular and integrated training pathways required for Wizz Air operations. Cadets joining the programme can expect to earn around £40,000 (€46,000) during training, rising to £60,000 (€68,000) upon completion and promotion to First Officer. After gaining experience, pilots may earn £90,000 (€103,000) after two years, with Captains commanding up to £200,000 (€230,000) annually. These figures reflect Wizz Air’s structured career progression system, which allows cadets to move from trainee status to command positions within a few years, a key attraction for career entrants in an industry known for long qualification timelines. Industry analysts note that the initiative is part of Wizz Air’s broader plan to grow its fleet to 500 aircraft by 2030, enabling the airline to carry over 100 million passengers annually. The expansion aligns with Wizz Air’s large Airbus A321neo order book, aimed at boosting efficiency and sustainability. Captain Phil Cullen, Head of Operations and Accountable Manager at Wizz Air UK, said the programme represents a “significant investment in the future of aviation and the UK’s economic landscape,” adding that it creates opportunities for young people seeking stable, long-term careers in aviation.

Pilot Training

Wizz Air To Train 1,200 New Pilots By 2028 With Improved Financial Support Scheme

Aviation Today News Desk / November 13, 2025

Dublin, Ireland: European budget airline Wizz Air has announced an ambitious recruitment and training campaign to prepare up to 1,200

commercial pilot training

US Coast Guard Suspends Search For Two Missing Pilots In Lake Pontchartrain Crash

Instructor, Student Feared Dead After Apollo Cessna Crashes In Lake Pontchartrain

Wizz Air To Train 1,200 New Pilots By 2028 With Improved Financial Support Scheme

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