Indian National Cadet Corps Pipistrel Virus SW 80 Garud training aircraft registration number W-3936 crashed under unknown circumstances. Both occupants were seriously injured. One of them, a wing commander died later of his injuries.
The deceased pilot has been identified as Wing Commander Gurpreet Singh Cheema who succumbed to his injuries.
Cheema was the part of Patiala Aviation Club. He was with 3rd Air Squadron. He was flying the Micro Light plane, which has no engine. While in the air, it flies only using heat thermals from the air.
The other student who was on-board with Cheema is critically injured. Government Mahindra College student cadet Vipan Kumar Yadav is under medical observation in Military Hospital.
The Patiala SSP Mandeep Singh Sidhu said the cadet had sustained serious injuries.
Wing Commander JS Cheema killed in a NCC aircraft crash in Patiala earlier today. pic.twitter.com/KOpotU9Nao
— Man Aman Singh Chhina (@manaman_chhina) February 24, 2020
Not many details are known of the incident yet.
An inquiry has been ordered by the IAF to ascertain the cause of the accident, the spokesperson said.
NCC 3rd Air Squadron Battalion Micro Light plane is used to train NCC cadets and has no engine. Once in the air, it flies using heat thermals from the air.
WOW in front of the gate of their flying school. What message they are trying to give.