NEW DELHI, April 26 (Xinhua) -- Two pilots were killed after a training aircraft crashed into a river in the western Indian state of Maharashtra on Wednesday, officials said.
"The mishap took place in Wainganga river in the state's Gondia district when the four-seater aircraft (number DA 42 Nike) was on a training session. The deceased have been identified as senior trainer Rajan Gupta and trainee Shivani," an aviation official said on condition of anonymity.
According to the official, Captain Gupta was accompanying the trainee on a solo test sortie when the plane suddenly crashed into the river nearly 34 km from National Flying Training Institute from where it took off.
A senior police official said the police, ambulance and fire brigade have reached the spot.
"Efforts are on to retrieve the mangled aircraft from the river," inspector general G. Janardan told the media.
Though the crash site is near a left-wing Naxalite stronghold, police have ruled out any involvement of the rebels in the crash.
"The primary information suggests that the aircraft crashed after coming in contact with a high-tension wire," said the police official.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation has ordered a probe into the crash.
