Single-engine aircraft had taken off from an Indian Air Force base for a standard training mission
ALLAHABAD: (UrduPoint/Pakistan Point News-Jan 21st, 2026) A small Indian Air Force aircraft crashed into a pond in Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, after losing control mid-flight during a routine training mission. The incident occurred behind KP College in the city of Prayagraj, formerly known as Allahabad.
The Indian media reported that the single-engine aircraft had taken off from an Indian Air Force base for a standard training mission. Onboard were a senior pilot and a junior trainee pilot. However, the aircraft failed to return, and communication with the control tower was lost.
Following the loss of contact, a search operation was launched but failed to locate the aircraft. It wasn’t until local residents reported the crash to a nearby police station that authorities were alerted. Eyewitnesses described seeing a small plane swaying in the air before it plunged into the pond, partially sinking, though no one was found inside the wreckage.
Rescue teams arriving at the crash site confirmed that the aircraft submerged in the pond was indeed the one being searched for. Upon further investigation, it was revealed that both pilots had ejected from the aircraft after detecting a malfunction mid-flight. They deployed their parachutes and landed safely on the ground.
Both pilots are reported to have suffered minor injuries and were promptly taken to a nearby military hospital for treatment. The cause of the crash is still under investigation.
The Indian Air Force issued a statement announcing the formation of an inquiry committee to determine the cause of the accident. However, such accidents are not uncommon in India, and there has been little progress in the past regarding safety measures or the release of inquiry reports from similar incidents.
It is worth noting that earlier this month, a small private aircraft from a domestic airline was also involved in a crash in India. The nine-seater plane, en route from Bhubaneswar to Rourkela, was forced to make an emergency landing just 10 kilometers short of Rourkela.
