Two Training Aircrafts Crash in a Single Day, DGCA Orders Audit

After two training aircraft were involved in separate non-fatal accidents in India on March 16, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has ordered a safety audit of all Flying Training Organisations (FTOs). In the accident in Jamshedpur, Jharkhand, the pilot reportedly neglected to open the landing gear, while the second jet crashed into the runway in Sultanpur, Uttar Pradesh, according to authorities from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation. Arun Kumar, the DGCA’s chief, stated that those who jeopardise public safety will face severe consequences. “We will carry out a complete safety audit of all the FTOs in the country and shall take strict action against those compromising safety,” Kumar said. Officials reported a Cessna 152 aircraft from Rewa-based FTO Falcon Aviation crashed on the runway at Sultanpur airport. They further stated that the female training pilot is safe and that no injuries or fatalities have occurred. According to authorities, a Piper PA34 Seneca aircraft operated by Jamshedpur-based Alchemist Aviation belly-landed on the city airport’s runway. They claimed the pilot failed to open the landing gear.