Mumbai/ New Delhi, February 8 Redbird Flight Training Academy, whose trainer aircraft crashed near Belagavi on Sunday, had come under regulatory scrutiny for similar accidents just over two years ago.
Following two crash landings of its aircraft within a week in October 2023, the aviation watchdog DGCA temporarily suspended the academy's operations at all its bases.
At least three accidents involving the academy's planes are being investigated by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB).
The civil aviation ministry said on Sunday that a Cessna 172 trainer aircraft, more than 50 years old, made an emergency landing in Karnataka due to inadequate fuel, and both pilots are safe.
The aircraft, VT-EUC, which was flying from Kalaburagi to Belagavi, crash-landed in an open field near Vijayapura, which is about 50 to 70 kilometers from the Belagavi airport.
The flight instructor and a trainee pilot were on board the aircraft, which broke into three pieces after the crash landing, sources said.
A senior official at the Redbird Flight Training Academy told PTI that after the crash, the pilots underwent medical checkups and both are safe.
"Prima facie, it appears that the Pilot-In-Command and the Trainee Pilot forgot to take sufficient fuel for the flight, which resulted in the emergency landing of the aircraft," the official said.
There was no official statement from the Academy.
A senior regulatory official told PTI that the decision on whether the incident will be investigated by the AAIB (Aircraft Accidents Investigation Bureau) or the DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation) will be made after the preliminary investigation.
In October 2023, the aviation regulator DGCA temporarily suspended the operations of Redbird Flight Training Academy at all its bases following two incidents of aircraft crash landings.
Both incidents occurred within a week in October 2023. At least three accidents involving the academy's planes are being investigated by the AAIB.
The TECNAM P-Mentor aircraft, VT-RFO, crash-landed near Suktara Airfield in Madhya Pradesh on December 8, 2025. In the accident, the Pilot-In-Command (PIC) sustained minor injuries, while the Trainee Pilot sustained serious injuries.
In another accident, the TECNAM P2008 JC aircraft of the academy crash-landed near Baramati airport on October 19, 2023, and the pilot sustained minor injuries.
Also, the TECNAM P2008 JC plane of the academy crash-landed near Baramati airport on October 22, 2023, resulting in minor injuries for the pilots.
The AAIB has released preliminary reports on the three accidents.
In its preliminary report on the accidents near Baramati airport in October 2023, the AAIB highlighted that the academy was hindering the investigation team's proceedings.
"In view of the fact that crucial evidence, such as the SD Card from the wreckage and CCTV Hard Disks, were removed before the arrival of the AAIB team without any intimation or permission, it is recommended that the DGCA should take necessary action against M/s Redbird Flight Training Academy Pvt Ltd for obstructing the proceedings of the Investigation Team as per the extant provisions," the preliminary report said.
Similarly, in the preliminary report on the October 22, 2023, accident, the AAIB said that crucial evidence, such as the SD Card, was removed before the agency's team arrived without any intimation or permission.
Citing this development, the AAIB recommended that the DGCA may take necessary action against the academy for obstructing the proceedings of the investigation team.
Meanwhile, the Sunday incident occurred less than two weeks after a plane crash near Baramati airport killed Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and four others on January 28.