Trainee pilot killed as aircraft crashes in India's Gujarat

Investigation launched after trainer aircraft belonging to a private aviation academy crashes in a residential area.

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A Indian trainee pilot lost his life on Tuesday after a trainer aircraft belonging to a New Delhi Delhi-based private aviation academy crashed in a residential area near Giriya Road in Amreli district of the South Asian country's Gujarat state.

The crash occurred around 12:30 PM and resulted in the aircraft being destroyed by fire. No other injuries were reported.

According to Amreli Superintendent of Police Sanjay Kharat, the pilot was flying solo and had taken off from Amreli airport prior to the accident. The cause of the crash remains unknown.

“The aircraft struck a tree before crash-landing in an open plot,” said Kharat. “The aircraft caught fire after the impact, but fortunately, no one else was injured.”

Emergency services, including the local fire brigade, responded quickly to the scene. Fire officer S.C. Gadhvi confirmed that the aircraft’s collision with the tree and subsequent fall into an open plot likely prevented greater damage or casualties.

Police have initiated the process to register an accidental death case and have begun an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash. The aviation academy involved conducts pilot training from Amreli airport, and the trainee was reported to be undergoing standard flight training.

Authorities are continuing to examine the wreckage and reviewing flight records to determine what caused the fatal incident. Further updates are expected as the investigation progresses.

Previously an Indian Air Force (IAF) Jaguar fighter aircraft crashed near Suvarda village, approximately 12 kilometres from Jamnagar city in Gujarat. The jet was on a routine training mission when the incident occurred.

According to Police , one of the two pilots ejected safely, while a search operation is underway to locate the second pilot. The aircraft caught fire after the crash, and police along with fire personnel rushed to the site to secure the area and begin rescue efforts.