Prayagraj Plane Crash: Trainee aircraft crashes, crew safe

A trainee aircraft of the Indian Air Force crashed into a water body in Prayagraj on Wednesday, with rescue operations underway and details still emerging.

Both the pilot and the other crew member who were onboard the aircraft are safe, defence sources told PTI. The aircraft has crashed near the K P College ground in the George Town area

The aircraft met with an accident while it was on a routine sortie. The recovery system was initiated. Authorities in Prayagraj have cordoned off the area, and an investigation into the incident is underway, officials in Prayagraj said.


Crashes involving training aircraft are rare but underscore the inherent risks associated with pilot instruction and aviation operations. India has seen several such incidents in recent years, including cases where pilots ejected safely during emergencies in other parts of the country.



The Indian Air Force said a microlite aircraft undertaking a routine training sortie from Air Force Station Bamrauli near Prayagraj experienced a technical malfunction on Wednesday and was safely force-landed in an uninhabited area, ensuring there was no damage to civilian life or property. The incident occurred around 12:15 pm. Both pilots on board the aircraft are safe, and the Air Force has ordered a Court of Inquiry to ascertain the cause of the malfunction, it added.

The latest event comes in the backdrop of heightened scrutiny of aviation safety after the Tejas fighter jet crash at the Dubai Airshow in November 2025, where an Indian Air Force aircraft went down during a demonstration flight, resulting in the pilot’s death.