Indian among 2 student pilots killed in mid-air collision in Canada
Tragedy struck in the skies of Canada on Tuesday when a mid-air collision between two single-engine planes resulted in the loss of two young lives. An Indian national, Sreehari Sukesh, was among the two student pilots who tragically lost their lives in the accident. The incident has sent shockwaves across the globe, with tributes pouring in for the young pilots who were pursuing their dreams of flying.
According to reports, the two planes, a Cessna 152 and a Piper PA-28, collided in mid-air over a rural area in Manitoba, Canada. The accident occurred at around 10:30 am local time, and both planes were flying at an altitude of around 1,000 feet. The pilots, who were both students, were on training flights when the collision occurred.
Sreehari Sukesh, the Indian national who lost his life in the accident, was a 22-year-old student pilot from Tripunithura in Kerala. He was originally from Kochi, where he studied before moving to Canada to pursue his passion for flying. Sukesh was a student at the Flight Training Institute in Winnipeg, Manitoba, and was nearing the end of his training program.
The news of Sukesh’s death was confirmed by India’s Consulate General in Toronto, which posted a statement on social media. “With profound sorrow, we mourn the tragic passing of Mr Sreehari Sukesh,” the consulate said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of Mr Sukesh, and we extend our deepest condolences to them in this hour of grief.”
The Canadian authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the accident, which is still ongoing. The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) has dispatched a team to the accident site to gather evidence and determine the circumstances surrounding the collision.
The incident serves as a stark reminder of the risks involved in flying, even for trained pilots. The mid-air collision is believed to have been caused by a combination of factors, including pilot error, air traffic control issues, and weather conditions.
The aviation community in Canada has come together to pay tribute to the two young pilots who lost their lives in the accident. The Flight Training Institute, where Sukesh was studying, has issued a statement expressing its shock and sadness at the news. “We are deeply saddened by the loss of two young lives in the mid-air collision,” the institute said. “Our thoughts are with the families and friends of the pilots, and we are doing everything we can to support them during this difficult time.”
The accident has also raised concerns about the safety of student pilots in Canada. The Transportation Safety Board of Canada has been criticized in the past for its handling of accidents involving student pilots, with some arguing that it does not do enough to investigate and prevent such incidents.
The incident is a sobering reminder of the risks involved in flying, even for trained pilots. The aviation community in Canada and around the world will be closely following the investigation into the accident, and will be working to ensure that measures are taken to prevent such tragedies from occurring in the future.
