Training aircraft crashes in Vidarbha; 2 killed

A flying instructor and a trainee pilot were killed when the aircraft they were flying crashed in Vidharbha.

Maharashtra, April 26: Two persons were killed when a trainer aircraft of a private aviation academy crashed into a river on Maharashtra's border with Madhya Pradesh on Wednesday, the police said.

Pilot Ranjan Gunta and student pilot Himani died when the National Flying Training Institute aircraft crashed around 9.30 am into the Vainganga river, the police said.

The aircraft reportedly developed a technical snag near Deori village soon after it took off from Gondia.

Rescue and police teams have rushed to the spot and efforts are on to locate the victims.

Officials said that the aircraft was on one of its usual sorties and had flown about 22 nautical miles or 34 km from the National Flying Training Institute. The crash site is close to Adani Power's coal-based thermal power plant at Tiroda.

Portions of the aircraft debris have been recovered from the river bank.

IANS