LUCKNOW: An Indian Air Force (IAF) trainer aircraft was forced to land into a pond during a routine training flight in Prayagraj on Wednesday, leading emergency teams to reach the site near the airport. Both the pilots were rescued to safety.
An army training aircraft made the landing after wobbling mid-air after developing some technical snag into the pond which is situated in a densely populated area in the heart of the city, with a school and residential colonies located adjacent to it. In fact, the pond is located behind KP College. The site is about 3 km from the Magh Mela area.
In fact, a microlite aircraft is used for training, bird reconnaissance, and survey operations. The aircraft in Prayagraj was on a routine sortie when the incident took place.
Initially, though it was suspected to be a crash, official sources, later, said that the aircraft was forced to make an emergency landing after a technical issue developed mid-flight.
As per the local sources, the small propeller plane appeared to lose control before diving into the water. Thick black smoke was seen rising from the area as local residents moved in to assist, before National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) divers and fire tenders arrived and secured the scene.
According to Prayagraj Deputy Commissioner of Police (City) Manish Shandilya, the aircraft was flying towards the Phaphamau and Sangam areas when it developed a technical snag. He added that there were two pilots onboard, who carried out a controlled and safe landing in a pond near KP College under the jurisdiction of the George Town police station.
Later, in an official statement posted on X, the Indian Air Force said that a microlight aircraft was safely force-landed in an uninhabited area and that a court of inquiry had been ordered into the incident.
“A Microlite aircraft of the IAF, while undertaking a routine sortie, from AF Station Bamrauli near Prayagraj at 1215 hrs on 21 Jan 26, experienced technical malfunction, and was safely force landed in an uninhabitated area, ensuring no damage to civil life or property,” said the IAF statement adding: “Both the pilots on board are safe. A Court of Inquiry has been ordered by IAF to ascertain the cause.”
Earlier, Wing Commander Debartho Dhar, PRO and spokesperson (defence), Prayagraj Region, told the media persons that it was a two-seater microlight training aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF).
The local sources claimed that the pond in which the aircraft made the forced landing was covered with water hyacinth on all sides. Rescue teams, including that of the Army, fire brigade, SDRF and NDRF, were present at the site.