New Delhi, 14 May (H.S.):

Aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has launched an investigation into the crash of a training aircraft belonging to Red Bird Aviation in Baramati, Maharashtra, on Wednesday.

In a statement issued late Wednesday, aviation regulator DGCA stated that on Wednesday, May 13, a Tecnam 2008JC aircraft (VT-RFY) operated by M/s Red Bird Aviation (a Flight Training Organization or FTO) encountered a technical malfunction during solo flying.

The trainee pilot was forced to make an emergency landing in fields near Baramati Airport at a location named Gojubovi, resulting in damage to the aircraft, though the pilot remained safe.

According to the initial investigation by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, the first circuit and landing were successful. However, during the second circuit landing, the trainee pilot sensed some technical malfunction and executed an emergency landing in an open field. The trainee pilot is safe, but the aircraft sustained damage.

DGCA is conducting a detailed probe into the incident.

It is noteworthy that this is not the first incident involving Red Bird Aviation; it marks the seventh major accident involving their aircraft since 2021. These repeated mishaps have raised serious questions about the academy's safety standards.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar