Aircraft Crashes in India After Striking Power Lines During Emergency Landing

A training aircraft has crashed in Uttar Pradesh, India, after coming into contact with overhead power lines during an emergency landing alongside a highway in the Kasganj district.

The female trainee pilot, who was the sole occupant of the aircraft, sustained injuries and has been hospitalized. India’s aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), has launched an investigation into the incident.

According to a report by the Hindustan Times, the Cessna 152 aircraft crashed while attempting an emergency landing in a field near an under-construction highway in Kasganj. Local eyewitnesses claimed that the aircraft struck overhead power lines before slamming into the ground beside the road.

The trainee pilot was alone on board the aircraft. Officials confirmed that her injuries are non-life-threatening, and she is currently receiving treatment at the district hospital. The aircraft belongs to the Aligarh-based Chetak Aviation Academy.

In an official statement, the DGCA confirmed that the Cessna 152 aircraft encountered the accident during a solo cross-country training flight.

"The Cessna 152 (VT-AFB) aircraft of Chetak Aviation was on a solo training flight from Aligarh when it met with an accident during an emergency landing in a field at Kasganj. The female trainee pilot is safe," the DGCA statement read.

The regulatory body has initiated a formal inquiry to determine the exact cause of the accident. The Cessna 152 is a single-engine, two-seat light aircraft widely utilized for flight training and pilot certification.