DGCA had flagged Tecnam safety issues before fatal Kanpur crash
DGCA had issued repeated safety advisories on Tecnam aircraft before a P2006T crashed in Kanpur, killing two. Recommendations followed a 2022 Bhiwani probe.
Months before a Tecnam training aircraft crashed in Kanpur, killing two people, India's aviation regulator had repeatedly flagged safety concerns about the aircraft model to flying training organisations (FTOs).
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) issued at least two communications since 2025 regarding Tecnam planes, which are widely used for flight instruction in India. The most recent advisory, dated July 10, 2026, circulated safety recommendations from the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) based on its probe into a May 2022 crash of a Tecnam P2006T at Bhiwani in Haryana.
In that communication, the DGCA advised FTOs to avoid parking Tecnam aircraft on aprons or tarmac for long periods during summer before training flights. It also stressed greater emphasis on emergency-handling training, particularly during critical phases of flight, and directed that checklists be revised to include all manufacturer-recommended emergency actions.
An earlier DGCA communication had sought feedback from FTOs on the operational performance of Tecnam aircraft. A reminder was sent on August 4, 2025, referencing a feedback checklist for the operational assessment of Tecnam aircraft.
A flying instructor, speaking on condition of anonymity, said several trainers had faced difficulties with the aircraft. While older models like Diamond and Cessna have established reliability and airworthiness records, Tecnam aircraft are gaining popularity for their affordability but carry a flying risk, the instructor said. The concerns reportedly extend to both single- and multi-engine Tecnam planes, with some incidents not clearly reflected in available records.
The instructor pointed to the 2022 Bhiwani accident and its investigation findings as evidence of operational difficulties, and suggested the DGCA consider temporarily grounding Tecnam aircraft until their safety and airworthiness are fully assessed.
The latest crash occurred on August 27, when a Tecnam P2006T operated by Garg Aviation, registration VT-NBV, took off from Kanpur Civil Airport around 11:30 a.m. and crashed about 20 minutes later near Nathapurwa village along the Ganga. Instructor Sachin Bhatia and trainee pilot Abhishek Pujari were killed.
The instructor noted that the wreckage in the Kanpur crash was far more severe than in the 2022 Bhiwani incident, with the fuselage destroyed and only the tail remaining.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation has said the AAIB will conduct a detailed investigation, with a three-member DGCA team providing regulatory oversight. The probe will examine maintenance and airworthiness records, flying hours, aircraft age, and engine operating limits, and determine whether technical or human factors contributed. Garg Aviation has said the aircraft had no maintenance-related deficiencies.