A routine night training sortie at Kanpur's Chakeri airport ended in a serious accident after a trainee pilot was struck by the spinning propeller of an aircraft moments after landing, prompting an investigation by India's aviation regulator.

The injured cadet, who was undergoing flight training with a flying school based at the airport, sustained injuries after exiting the aircraft while one of its engines was still running.

According to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the accident occurred on Friday during a night instructional flight operated by Garg Aviation. The twin-engine Tecnam P2006T trainer aircraft, registered as VT-NBV, had landed safely before the trainee stepped out of the aircraft.

Preliminary information indicates that the cadet was subsequently struck by the rotating propeller and suffered injuries to her back. She was rushed to a hospital in Kanpur, where she is undergoing treatment.

In the aircraft at the time were the trainee pilot and a flight instructor overseeing the training session.

Following the incident, the DGCA has initiated a formal investigation to determine how the accident occurred and whether standard operating procedures were followed. The regulator has also directed that the aircraft involved remain grounded until the inquiry is completed.

As an immediate precautionary measure, the instructor associated with the training flight has been removed from flying training duties pending the outcome of the investigation.

The Tecnam P2006T is a widely used twin-engine trainer aircraft employed by flying schools for pilot instruction. Aviation experts note that aircraft propellers can become difficult to detect, especially during low-light conditions, making strict adherence to shutdown and disembarkation protocols critical.

The investigation is underway.

With PTI inputs