Vijayapura (Karnataka), February 8 Two people, including the pilot, narrowly escaped death when a private mini aircraft crashed into an open field in the district on Sunday afternoon, police sources said. The two-seater aircraft, belonging to Redbird Aviation in Kalaburagi, crashed in Mangaluru village in the Babaleshwar Taluk of Vijayapura district, they said. Both occupants ejected before the aircraft crashed, sources added, noting that the aircraft broke into three pieces. Those who survived the accident were identified as Captain Kunal Malhotra, an Assistant Flight Instructor (AFI) at Redbird Aviation, and trainee pilot Goutham Sankar P R. Both sustained injuries and were taken to a hospital, they added. It is reported that the training aircraft was flying from Kalaburagi to Belagavi, although further details are awaited. A spokesperson for the Civil Aviation Ministry said, "The Cessna 172 Aircraft, VT-EUC (MSN-17265717) of Redbird Flying Training Academy Limited made an emergency landing in a field near Bagalkot, 100 km east of the Belagavi Airport. It is reported that both the instructor and the cadet are safe."
Vijayapura (Karnataka), February 8 Two people, including the pilot, narrowly escaped death when a private mini aircraft crashed into an open field in the district on Sunday afternoon, police sources said. The two-seater aircraft, belonging to Redbird Aviation in Kalaburagi, crashed in Mangaluru village in the Babaleshwar Taluk of Vijayapura district, they said. Both occupants ejected before the aircraft crashed, sources added, noting that the aircraft broke into three pieces. Those who survived the accident were identified as Captain Kunal Malhotra, an Assistant Flight Instructor (AFI) at Redbird Aviation, and trainee pilot Goutham Sankar P R. Both sustained injuries and were taken to a hospital, they added. It is reported that the training aircraft was flying from Kalaburagi to Belagavi, although further details are awaited. A spokesperson for the Civil Aviation Ministry said, "The Cessna 172 Aircraft, VT-EUC (MSN-17265717) of Redbird Flying Training Academy Limited made an emergency landing in a field near Bagalkot, 100 km east of the Belagavi Airport. It is reported that both the instructor and the cadet are safe."