Cessna 172 Trainer Aircraft Crash-Lands Near Belagavi Airport Due to Fuel Issues

A Cessna 172 trainer aircraft, aged 50 years, crash-landed near Belagavi airport on Sunday afternoon due to insufficient fuel. The two pilots on board were unharmed. The aircraft, registered as VT-EUC, was en route from Kalaburagi to Belagavi when it landed in an open field in Mangaluru village, Babaleshwar Taluk, Vijayapura district. This location is approximately 50 to 70 kilometres from Belagavi airport.

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Both pilots managed to eject before the aircraft broke into three pieces upon impact. The civil aviation ministry reported that the forced landing was likely caused by fuel starvation. The plane was manufactured in 1975, with its registration certificate issued on May 23, 2023, and its airworthiness certificate granted on September 20, 2023.

Redbird Flight Training Academy's Fleet and Certification

The Airworthiness Review Certificate (ARC) for the aircraft was issued on August 1, 2025, valid until August 3, 2026. This certificate ensures the aircraft's fitness to fly after thorough inspection. Redbird Flight Training Academy operates a fleet of 48 planes and holds a Flying Training Organisation (FTO) approval valid until July 22, 2030.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) approved the academy as an FTO on July 23, 2020. Captain Kunal Malhotra, an Assistant Flight Instructor at Redbird, and trainee pilot Goutham Sankar P R were involved in the incident. The Pilot In Command had accumulated 734 hours of flying experience.

Response and Investigation

A spokesperson for Redbird Flight Training Academy stated that the aircraft made a precautionary landing around 1430 hours during a cross-country flight near Vijayapura. "We are relieved to confirm that both the Instructor and the trainee pilot on board are safe," said the spokesperson. They were promptly taken to a nearby hospital for treatment of minor injuries.

The academy is cooperating fully with regulatory reviews and has reinforced strict adherence to pre-flight inspections across all bases. Further investigation will be conducted by DGCA and the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB).

Previous Incidents and Regulatory Scrutiny

This incident occurred less than two weeks after a crash near Baramati airport resulted in the death of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and four others on January 28. Redbird Flight Training Academy had faced regulatory scrutiny over similar incidents just over two years ago.

In October 2023, following two crash landings within a week, DGCA temporarily suspended the academy's operations at all bases. At least three accidents involving Redbird's planes are currently under investigation by AAIB.

The aviation community remains vigilant as investigations continue into these incidents to ensure safety standards are upheld and future occurrences are prevented.

With inputs from PTI