A routine flying lesson took an unexpected turn at Maharashtra's Solapur airport on Thursday when a training aircraft suffered a hard landing, leaving it damaged and forcing emergency personnel to rush to the spot. The woman trainee pilot at the controls, however, escaped without injuries.

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The incident involved a Tecnam P-Mentor aircraft bearing registration number VT-RFP, operated by Redbird Flight Training Academy.

The aircraft was undertaking a solo cross-country training sortie when the mishap occurred at around 2.30 pm.

The trainee, identified as Jyoti Tanwar, had approximately 160 hours of flying experience. She was flying along the Kalaburagi-Baramati-Solapur-Kalaburagi route as part of her training schedule.

According to reports, the aircraft's nose-wheel tyre burst during landing, causing it to skid off the runway.

The impact left the aircraft tilted forward, with its nose wheel damaged and the fuselage resting in a semi-vertical position.

The aircraft's unusual position prompted an immediate response from airport authorities and emergency services. Fire personnel, an ambulance and police teams were rushed to the airport following the incident.

Despite the damage to the aircraft, Tanwar emerged unhurt. She was subsequently taken to a local hospital for a medical examination.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) was informed about the incident. Further details regarding the circumstances that led to the hard landing were awaited.

The incident once again draws attention to the risks associated with flight training, particularly solo sorties that form an essential part of a trainee pilot's preparation for independent flying.