RedBird Flight Training Academy Under Regulatory Scrutiny Following Two Plane Accidents in October 2023

A Cessna 172 trainer aircraft, over 50 years old, made an emergency landing in Karnataka due to insufficient fuel. The incident occurred near Vijayapura, approximately 50 to 70 kilometres from Belagavi airport. Both the flight instructor and trainee pilot on board were unharmed. The aircraft, identified as VT-EUC, was en route from Kalaburagi to Belagavi when it crash-landed in an open field.

Representative image

Redbird Flight Training Academy, which owns the aircraft, has faced scrutiny before. In October 2023, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) temporarily halted its operations after two crash landings within a week. At least three accidents involving the academy's planes are under investigation by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB).

Regulatory Concerns and Investigations

The AAIB is examining three incidents involving Redbird's planes. A TECNAM P-Mentor aircraft crashed near Suktara Airfield in Madhya Pradesh on December 8, 2025. The Pilot-In-Command suffered minor injuries, while the trainee pilot was seriously injured. Another TECNAM P2008 JC aircraft crash-landed near Baramati airport on October 19, 2023, with the pilot sustaining minor injuries.

On October 22, 2023, another TECNAM P2008 JC plane crashed near Baramati airport, resulting in minor injuries to the pilots. Preliminary reports from AAIB highlighted that Redbird obstructed investigations by removing crucial evidence like SD cards and CCTV hard disks without permission.

Previous Incidents and Recommendations

The AAIB's preliminary reports on the Baramati accidents in October 2023 noted obstruction by Redbird. Evidence was removed before investigators arrived. The AAIB recommended that DGCA take action against Redbird for hindering investigations. This recommendation was based on missing evidence crucial for understanding the accidents.

A senior official from Redbird stated that both pilots underwent medical checks after the recent crash and were found safe. The official suggested that insufficient fuel uplift by the pilots led to the forced landing. However, no official statement has been released by the academy regarding this incident.

Future Steps and Recent Tragedies

A decision on whether AAIB or DGCA will investigate Sunday's incident is pending a preliminary probe. This accident occurred less than two weeks after a tragic plane crash near Baramati airport on January 28 killed Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and four others.

The DGCA's temporary suspension of Redbird's operations in October 2023 followed two crash landings within a week. These incidents raised concerns about safety practices at the academy. The ongoing investigations aim to address these issues and ensure compliance with aviation safety standards.

With inputs from PTI