In a tragic turn of events, the bodies of a trainee pilot and his instructor were recovered near Chandil Dam in Jharkhand’s Seraikela Kharsawan district, 40 hours after their Cessna 152 aircraft went missing. The aircraft had disappeared from radar shortly after taking off from Jamshedpur, leading to a frantic search operation.
Tragic Cessna Crash in Jharkhand: Bodies of Pilot and Trainee Recovered Near Chandil Dam
Eyewitness Account: Plane Lost Power Before Crash
In a heartbreaking development, the search for a missing Cessna 152 aircraft came to a somber conclusion on August 22, 2024, when the bodies of the trainee pilot and his instructor were found near the Chandil Dam in Jharkhand’s Seraikela Kharsawan district. The aircraft had gone missing more than 40 hours earlier, shortly after taking off from the Sonari aerodrome in Jamshedpur.
Rushu Manjhi, an eyewitness from Pyaldih village, described the moments leading up to the crash. He reported seeing the plane flying normally before it suddenly fell silent and descended rapidly towards the water. Manjhi’s account provided crucial information that helped narrow down the search area to the Chandil Dam reservoir.
Search Operation Concludes After 40 Hours: Navy and NDRF Involved
Following the aircraft’s disappearance on the morning of August 20, a comprehensive search operation was launched. Initially, the search area covered a broad region around Jamshedpur. However, as time progressed, the focus shifted towards the Chandil Dam after Manjhi’s report suggested the plane might have gone down in the reservoir.
The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) was deployed to assist in the search, and the Indian Navy was called in for support. Utilizing advanced equipment, including a Sonic Navigation and Ranging Device, the search teams combed through the dam’s waters. Their efforts culminated in the recovery of the bodies on August 22.
Identifications Confirmed: Pilot and Trainee Named in Fatal Incident
The deceased have been identified as Subhrodeep Dutta, a trainee pilot from Adityapur near Jamshedpur, and Jeet Satru Anand, the instructor pilot from Patna. According to Alchemist Aviation, the company responsible for the training, Anand had accumulated over 2,000 training hours, while Dutta had logged approximately 80-90 flying hours.
This tragic incident has cast a shadow over the aviation community, highlighting the risks associated with flight training. An investigation into the cause of the crash is underway, with authorities seeking to determine whether mechanical failure or other factors played a role.
The recovery of the bodies brings some closure to the families affected, but it also raises questions about aviation safety and the need for enhanced protocols to prevent such tragedies in the future.
Saathee Global
