BHOPAL, Madhya Pradesh — A training aircraft crashed near Sukatra village in Seoni district on Monday evening after narrowly missing a high-voltage power line, prompting a swift rescue effort by local villagers who helped save both occupants.
The crash occurred around 6:30 p.m. in the Kurai police station area, police said. The two-seater training plane reportedly descended abruptly due to a technical malfunction, with one of its wheels becoming entangled in a 33kV high-tension wire before breaking free and hitting the ground.
A video of the incident quickly circulated on social media, showing the damaged aircraft and villagers rushing to the scene.
C.S. Tekam, Investigation Officer at Kurai Police Station, told IANS that both the trainer and trainee — identified as Ajeet Anthony and Ashok Chhava — survived the crash and were taken to a private hospital. One sustained a head injury and the other suffered facial injuries, but both were able to walk out of the aircraft.
“Both the trainer and trainee are out of danger,” Tekam said. “As the company officials informed us, they managed to exit the plane safely.”
The officer confirmed that no fatalities occurred despite the close call with the power line. The training aircraft’s wheel struck the wire with enough force to sever it from its tower, causing sparks and a loud noise that alarmed residents.
According to preliminary findings and eyewitness accounts, the aircraft appeared to lose power during flight, leading to a sudden descent. Villagers reported seeing the plane clip the wires, followed by flashes and a loud crack before it hit the ground. Locals immediately rushed to help the trapped occupants.
Residents also claimed similar mishaps had occurred in the past, alleging that training aircraft had overturned twice previously while using the local runway. They warned that had the plane remained suspended in the wires any longer, the outcome could have been far more serious.
Police said the training company has been operating in the region since 2023 and that further investigation will proceed once directions are received from higher authorities. (Source: IANS)
