A training aircraft belonging to Redbird Flight Training Academy crash-landed near the Baramati airstrip in Pune district on Wednesday morning, leaving the trainee pilot with minor injuries. The incident occurred around 8.50am in Gojubavi village, the same location where a plane carrying former deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar crashed on January 28, killing Pawar and four others.
Details of the Crash
Superintendent of police (Pune Rural) Sandeep Singh Gill stated that the aircraft was flying at a low altitude when it first struck an electricity pole before coming down in an agricultural field. “The aircraft was at a relatively low height when it hit a power pole and subsequently crash-landed in an agricultural field at 8.50am,” Gill said.
According to police, the aircraft experienced a technical malfunction mid-flight, forcing the pilot to attempt an emergency landing. “According to preliminary eyewitness accounts, the aircraft developed a technical issue while flying at a low altitude. During the emergency landing, one side of the aircraft collided with a light pole before it hit the ground,” Gill added.
Aircraft and Pilot Details
The aircraft was being flown solo by a trainee pilot at the time of the accident. A spokesperson for Redbird Flight Training Academy confirmed that the aircraft involved was a Tecnam P2008JC (registration VT-RFY). “It was on a solo training sortie when the accident occurred near Gojubavi. The cadet pilot is safe, and the situation is under control. We are coordinating with authorities, and a detailed report will follow after further investigation,” the spokesperson said.
The police reached the spot shortly after receiving information and initiated an inquiry into the accident.
Training Exercise and Investigation
Sources familiar with the matter said the aircraft was a single-engine, twin-seater trainer commonly used for flight training. The student pilot was reportedly conducting a circuit landing exercise, a routine training manoeuvre involving takeoff, a circuit in the air, and landing. “The cadet had completed one circuit successfully and was attempting another when the accident occurred. A detailed investigation will determine the exact cause,” an official said.
Previous Incidents
Redbird Flight Training Academy operates a fleet of 56 aircraft, including 52 single-engine and four multi-engine planes, across six training bases in India, one of which is in Baramati. The academy's aircraft have been involved in previous incidents in the area. In October 2023, two crashes were reported — one near railway tracks in Katfal village and another in Gojubavi — both resulting in injuries. Additionally, last August, a trainee pilot had a narrow escape after a hard landing at Baramati airstrip caused the aircraft to veer off the runway.
Authorities are conducting a thorough investigation to determine the exact cause of the latest crash.
