Trainee pilot hit by propeller after stepping off aircraft; DGCA orders probe
A 22-year-old trainee pilot from New Delhi was injured when she was struck by a rotating propeller after stepping off a twin-engine trainer aircraft at Kanpur's Chakeri airport, prompting the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to order an investigation and ground the aircraft.
Riya Batra sustained back injuries after deboarding Garg Aviation's Tecnam P2006T aircraft during a night training sortie on Friday. The civil aviation regulator has removed the instructor from flying training duties pending the probe and barred the use of the aircraft (registration VTNBV) until the investigation is complete.
The DGCA is investigating whether Batra exited the aircraft on her own accord or was instructed to do so before the engines were shut down. According to a DGCA statement, 'After landing, the trainee pilot deboarded the aircraft with the engine running. The cadet received injuries to her back after being hit by the running propeller.'
A note submitted by a friend at the private hospital where Batra was admitted indicated that she had suffered injuries from a scooter fall. Investigators are expected to examine this discrepancy as part of the probe.
While boarding and deboarding trainer aircraft with propellers running is prohibited, industry insiders allege that some flying training organisations in India and abroad swap trainees between sorties without shutting down engines to save time. The probe will determine the specifics of this incident.
Garg Aviation's safety manager, Group Captain Rajeev Bhalla, stated that the aircraft landed around 8:40 pm and was slowing to a halt when Batra 'attempted to get out of the aircraft before both engines had been switched off,' contrary to standard operating procedure. Flight instructor Captain Raunak, with approximately 5,000 flying hours, saw her trying to step out, 'immediately shouted at her to stop and simultaneously switched off the engines,' Bhalla said.
Before the propeller stopped rotating, it struck Batra on her back. Emergency medical assistance was provided, and she was transferred to a private hospital. Bhalla confirmed that Batra is recovering and that her injuries 'are not expected to end her aviation career.'
