IAF Microlight Aircraft Crashes in Prayagraj; Pilots Rescued Safely

New Delhi, january 21, 2026 — An Indian Air Force (IAF) microlight aircraft crashed into a water body in Uttar Pradesh’s Prayagraj district on Wednesday morning. The incident occurred during a routine training sortie, but fortunately, both pilots on board managed to escape without serious injury.

Sequence of Events

The two-seater microlight aircraft took off from the Bamrauli Air Force Station, which serves as the headquarters of the Central Air Command, for a scheduled training exercise. According to eyewitnesses near the site, the small propeller-driven plane appeared to lose altitude and circle unusually low before plunging into a pond located behind KP College in central Prayagraj.

Dramatic visuals from the scene showed the aircraft partially submerged in the water, with thick black smoke rising from the wreckage. Local residents were the first to arrive at the spot, quickly notifying the district administration and police.

Rescue and Recovery Operations

Emergency response teams, including the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) divers and local fire tenders, were deployed immediately to the crash site.

• Pilot Safety: Both pilots successfully exited the aircraft. While some reports suggest they managed to eject, others indicate a controlled “precautionary landing” into the water after a suspected engine failure.
• Medical Check: The pilots were rescued from the pond and transported to a nearby medical facility for observation. They are reported to be in stable condition with only minor wounds.
• No Collateral Damage: Officials confirmed that there were no civilian casualties or damage to property on the ground, as the aircraft went down in an isolated water body away from densely populated residential zones.

Investigation Launched

The Indian Air Force has officially ordered a Court of Inquiry (CoI) to determine the exact cause of the mishap. Preliminary reports from defense sources suggest a potential technical malfunction or engine failure shortly after takeoff.

“The IAF has initiated a probe to ascertain whether the crash was due to mechanical failure, bird strike, or other environmental factors,” an official statement noted.

Context of Training Mishaps

This incident is the latest in a series of training accidents involving IAF trainer aircraft over the past year. In November 2025, a Pilatus PC-7 basic trainer crashed near Chennai, and in early 2025, a Jaguar fighter jet was lost during a routine mission in Haryana.

Microlight aircraft, often used by the IAF for reconnaissance and bird-strike monitoring, are light and relatively slow-moving, which often allows pilots a better window for emergency landings in the event of a power loss.