Indian Air Force microlight training aircraft crash-lands in Prayagraj due to engine failure on January 21, 2026; pilots safe, inquiry launched amid aviation safety concerns.
Close Call in the Skies: IAF Microlight Crash Highlights Training Risks and Aircraft Reliability Concerns:
An Indian Air Force microlight training aircraft plummeted into a pond in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, on January 21, 2026, after a mid-air engine failure, but both pilots emerged unscathed thanks to a swift emergency landing. The incident, occurring during a routine sortie from Bamrauli Air Force Station, underscores vulnerabilities in military aviation amid a string of recent crashes. With no casualties or property damage reported, the event raises questions about equipment reliability, potentially impacting training operations and public confidence in the IAF’s fleet. As investigations begin, it highlights the human stakes: skilled officers risking their lives in everyday missions to maintain national defense readiness.
Engine Snag Over Prayagraj: IAF Microlight Parachutes to Safety in Pond:
The mishap unfolded mid-morning on January 21, 2026. The two-seater microlight, a lightweight aircraft used for pilot training and bird reconnaissance, took off from Bamrauli Air Force Station near Prayagraj for a standard sortie. Around 12:15 pm, it suffered a sudden engine failure, prompting the pilots to deploy the emergency parachute system. Video footage captured the aircraft descending under the canopy before impacting a pond in the Rambagh area, approximately three kilometers from the ongoing Magh Mela festival site.
Local police and IAF teams, supported by fire brigade and residents, quickly reached the scene. The pilots, identified as Group Captain Praveen Agarwal (Vayusena Medal awardee and station’s Chief Operating Officer) and Group Captain Sunil Kumar Pandey (Chief Administrative Officer), were rescued unharmed. The aircraft was recovered intact, with no reported fire or explosion. Prayagraj Deputy Commissioner of Police Manish Shandilya confirmed the sortie was monitoring bird activity near airfields when the snag occurred.
By afternoon, the IAF issued a statement: “A Microlite aircraft of the IAF, while undertaking a routine sortie from AF Station Bamrauli near Prayagraj at 12:15 hrs on 21 Jan 26, experienced a technical malfunction and was safely force landed in an uninhabited area, ensuring no damage to civil life or property.” A Court of Inquiry was immediately ordered to determine the exact cause.
Crashes, Costs, and Geopolitics: Why Every IAF Incident Matters:
India’s military aviation has faced recurring setbacks, with the IAF logging multiple incidents in recent years. Microlight aircraft, introduced for cost-effective training and surveillance, are small, single-engine planes capable of short takeoffs and landings. This event echoes past crashes: In July 2025, two pilots perished in a Jaguar fighter jet accident in Rajasthan’s Churu district. Earlier, in 2024, a MiG-29 crashed during a training flight in Uttar Pradesh, with the pilot ejecting safely. The IAF operates over 2,000 aircraft, but aging fleets and technical issues have prompted modernization drives, including acquisitions like Rafale jets.
Historically, India’s air force, established in 1932, has evolved from World War II roles to modern conflicts, but safety concerns persist. A 2023 parliamentary report highlighted 29 crashes between 2017-2022, attributing many to human error and mechanical failures. Prayagraj, home to Bamrauli (a key training base), sees frequent sorties, making such incidents locally disruptive but rare in causing harm. While no lives were lost, repeated crashes strain resources, delay training, and fuel debates on procurement delays amid geopolitical tensions with neighbors like China and Pakistan. For locals near air bases, it raises safety fears, though the IAF emphasizes protocols to minimize risks.