A two-seater Indian Air Force (IAF) trainer aircraft crashed into a pond near Air Force Station Bamrauli in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, on Wednesday during a routine training flight. Both pilots on board were safely rescued.
Eyewitnesses reported that the small propeller-driven aircraft appeared to lose control before diving into the water, producing thick black smoke. Local residents initially assisted at the scene until National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) divers and fire tenders arrived to secure the area.
Wg Cdr Debartho Dhar, IAF spokesperson for the Prayagraj region, confirmed that the aircraft developed a technical issue mid-flight, prompting an emergency parachute landing at 12:07 PM. “Both the IAF officers on board the aircraft have been rescued and are fine,” he said.
Visuals from the site showed wreckage scattered near the pond, with onlookers gathering nearby. Recovery operations for the aircraft are ongoing.
This incident follows a previous IAF crash in November 2025 near Tambaram, Chennai, where the pilot ejected safely.
Key Details:
- Location: Near Air Force Station Bamrauli, Prayagraj, UP
- Aircraft: Two-seater microlight trainer
- Time: 12:07 PM IST, Jan 21, 2026
- Casualties: None; both pilots rescued
- Cause: Technical issue mid-flight; under investigation