Safety Concerns Linger: DGCA's Warning Signs Ignored in Kanpur Crash

The recent Kanpur crash has raised serious concerns about the safety of Tecnam aircraft, which have been flagged by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) over a month prior to the incident. The DGCA had issued safety recommendations to flying training organisations (FTOs), including avoiding prolonged parking of Tecnam aircraft during summer and emphasizing emergency situation training.

The DGCA's warnings were not limited to this incident. The regulator had flagged concerns about Tecnam planes at least twice since 2025, primarily used in India for flying training. An earlier communication, dated August 4, 2025, sought feedback from FTOs on the operational performance of Tecnam aircraft. The reminder, which was sent with the subject "Reminder regarding Feedback checklist for 'Operational Assessment of General Aviation (GA) Aircraft's Performance -Tecnam Aircraft," referred to an earlier email seeking responses through the feedback checklist.

A flying instructor, who spoke to PTI on condition of anonymity, said several instructors had faced difficulties with Tecnam aircraft. "Diamond and Cessna aircraft, which have traditionally been flown for a long time, have good reliability, maintenance and airworthiness. Tecnam aircraft are becoming more popular because of their affordability, but there is a flying risk associated with them," the instructor said.

The senior pilot trainer also referred to the 2022 Bhiwani accident and the findings of the subsequent AAIB investigation, saying they pointed to difficulties associated with operating Tecnam aircraft. The instructor suggested the DGCA should consider grounding Tecnam aircraft temporarily and allow FTOs to operate them only after their safety and airworthiness had been fully assessed.

The ministry of civil aviation said the AAIB would conduct a detailed investigation into the accident, while a three-member DGCA team would provide regulatory oversight and coordination. The investigation is expected to examine the aircraft's maintenance and airworthiness records, flying hours, age and engine operating limits, besides determining whether technical or human factors contributed to the crash.

Garg Aviation had said after the accident that the aircraft had no maintenance-related deficiencies. However, the DGCA's actions raise questions about the effectiveness of safety protocols and the responsibility of flying training organisations to prioritize pilot safety. The Kanpur crash highlights the need for swift implementation of safety recommendations and increased vigilance in the aviation sector.

DGCA's Safety Concerns

The DGCA's warnings about Tecnam aircraft are not new. The regulator had flagged concerns about the aircraft at least twice since 2025. The latest communication, dated July 10, 2026, circulated safety recommendations issued by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) following the May 12, 2022 crash of a twin-engine Tecnam P2006T, operated by FSTC Flying School Pvt Ltd, at Bhiwani in Haryana.

Safety Recommendations

The DGCA had issued safety recommendations to FTOs, including avoiding prolonged parking of Tecnam aircraft during summer and emphasizing emergency situation training. The regulator also directed revisions to checklists to incorporate OEM-recommended actions for handling emergencies.

Investigation

The ministry of civil aviation said the AAIB would conduct a detailed investigation into the accident, while a three-member DGCA team would provide regulatory oversight and coordination. The investigation is expected to examine the aircraft's maintenance and airworthiness records, flying hours, age and engine operating limits, besides determining whether technical or human factors contributed to the crash.

Safety Implications

The Kanpur crash highlights the need for swift implementation of safety recommendations and increased vigilance in the aviation sector. The DGCA's actions raise questions about the effectiveness of safety protocols and the responsibility of flying training organisations to prioritize pilot safety.

Key Takeaways

• The DGCA had flagged safety concerns about Tecnam aircraft over a month before the Kanpur crash.
• The regulator had issued safety recommendations to flying training organisations, including avoiding prolonged parking of Tecnam aircraft during summer and emphasizing emergency situation training.
• The investigation into the crash is expected to examine the aircraft's maintenance and airworthiness records, flying hours, age and engine operating limits, besides determining whether technical or human factors contributed to the crash.