Indian Student Pilot Dies In Mid Air Collision In Canada

 

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In a tragic incident that has sent shockwaves through the aviation training community, an Indian student pilot lost his life in a mid-air collision in the Canadian province of Manitoba. The mishap occurred on Tuesday morning, involving two single-engine training aircraft operated by students on a routine flight exercise.

The Indian national, identified as #SreehariSukesh, was killed in the collision, along with 20-year-old Canadian student pilot #SavannaMayRoyes, who was also onboard the second aircraft.

Both pilots were flying solo and had no passengers on board when their planes collided near Steinbach, a small city located around 50 kilometres southeast of Winnipeg.

 

The #ConsulateGeneralOfIndia in Toronto confirmed the tragic death of Sreehari Sukesh in a statement issued on Wednesday. “We are in touch with the bereaved family, the pilot training school, and local authorities to ensure all necessary assistance is extended,” the statement read.

The Indian consular officials are reportedly working closely with the Canadian authorities to facilitate all required procedures, including the repatriation of remains.

The two aircraft were reportedly involved in a training exercise involving takeoffs and landings when the crash occurred. According to Adam Penner, president of #HarvsAir, the flight school where both students were enrolled, the mid-air collision happened while the aircraft were on approach to a landing strip. “This is a devastating loss for everyone involved,” Penner said, expressing his condolences to both families.

Local media outlet Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) reported that emergency responders, including personnel from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), the local fire department, and medical services, rushed to the scene immediately after the crash was reported. A statement issued by the #RCMP confirmed that both pilots were pronounced dead at the scene.

“There were no other individuals on board either aircraft,” the RCMP noted, adding that the wreckage was found in a remote field area to the south of Steinbach. The incident has deeply affected the nearby community, with eyewitnesses recalling the moment the crash occurred.

Nathaniel Plett, a resident who lives close to the flying school, described the terrifying scene. “My wife and I were at home when we heard a loud bang,” he told CBC News. “I turned to her and said, ‘That sounded like a plane crash.’ Then we saw a column of black smoke rise into the sky. A short while later, we heard another bang, and the smoke got even thicker.”

The #TransportationSafetyBoard (TSB) of Canada has taken over the investigation into the incident. As the national agency responsible for probing aviation accidents, the TSB is currently gathering flight data, eyewitness accounts, and technical information to determine the cause of the crash.

Officials have confirmed that a formal investigation has been initiated and that further details will be made public as they become available.

Meanwhile, friends, families, and fellow trainees are mourning the untimely deaths of the two young pilots, both of whom were pursuing their dreams of aviation. According to CBC, Savanna May Royes had long aspired to become a pilot, hoping to follow in the footsteps of her father.

This tragic mid-air collision underscores the risks involved in flight training and has reignited discussions around aviation safety, airspace coordination, and emergency response protocols for training schools across Canada and beyond.