Trainer aircraft crashes after hitting power line in MP's Seoni; pilot, instructor injured
Seoni (MP) (PTI): A trainer aircraft belonging to a private aviation academy crashed on Monday evening after hitting a 33kV high voltage power line in Seoni district in Madhya Pradesh, resulting in injuries to the pilot and flight instructor, officials said.
The aircraft of Redbird Flight Training Academy, which has a base in Seoni, crashed near agriculture fields of Amagon, around 2km from the Suktara airstrip on National Highway-44 at 6:25 pm, a senior police official said.
Academy representatives told police the aircraft's engine stopped generating power and this led to the accident.
Pilot Ajit Chawda and flight instructor Ajit Anthony were injured in the crash which took place around 20km from the district headquarters, the official said.
Both are undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Barapathar near Seoni city, he said.
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According to eyewitnesses, while landing on the runway, the lower part of the aircraft collided with 33 kV power line of the Badalpar substation.
The power line snapped and the trainer jet crashed to the ground, the official said, adding electricity supply was disrupted in the area.
On receiving information about the incident, Madhya Pradesh East Zone Electricity Distribution Company staffers, villagers and police rushed to the spot, rescued the injured persons and sent them to hospital.
Seoni Superintendent of Police Sunil Mehta told PTI that a team has been sent to the crash scene.
The injured pilot and the instructor are reported to be out of danger, said the police officer.
The aircraft, which took off from the Sukatra airstrip, was returning to the runway when it crashed, according to Ramlal Uike, Sarpanch of Amgaon Panchayat.
"A loud explosion was heard, sparks flew when the aircraft's wings touched the power line," Uike added.
According to Kurai town inspector Kripal Singh Tekam, Redbird Academy employees, citing preliminary investigations, told police the plane started descending after its engine stopped generating power.
The flight instructor immediately contacted the air controller station and the pilot was instructed to make a safe landing in nearby fields. During this landing, the plane collided with power line and crashed, he said.
Redbird Academy representatives were not available for comment on the incident.
Subhash Rai, Executive Engineer of Madhya Pradesh East Zone Electricity Distribution Company, (Seoni Division), said 80 to 90 villages around Badalpar and Gwari substations were plunged into darkness due to damage to the power line.
Power distribution company employees are working on restoring electricity in these villages, he said.
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Deepinder Goyal to step down as Eternal Group CEO & MD
New Delhi (PTI): Eternal on Wednesday said Deepinder Goyal will step down as Group CEO and Managing Director with Blinkit CEO Albinder Dhindsa set to succeed him as Group CEO from February 1.
In a letter to shareholders, Goyal said he is stepping down from his current position to pursue new ideas and transition to the role of Vice Chairman.
Eternal informed exchanges that the appointment of Goyal as Vice Chairman & Director on the board will be effective upon shareholders' approval for a five-year term.
In the letter, Goyal explained the reason behind him stepping down as the Group CEO and MD.
"Of late, I have found myself drawn to a set of new ideas that involve significantly higher-risk exploration and experimentation. These are the kinds of ideas that are better pursued outside a public company like Eternal. If these ideas belonged inside Eternal's strategic scope, I would have pursued them within the company. They do not. Eternal deserves to remain focused, and disciplined, while exploring new areas of growth that are relevant to its current line of business," Goyal stated.
He further said the transition allows Eternal to remain sharply focused, while giving him the space to explore ideas that do not fit Eternal's risk profile.
"The centre of gravity for operating decisions moves to Albi. As Group CEO, he will own day-to-day execution, operating priorities, and business decisions. Blinkit's journey from acquisition to break-even happened under his leadership," Goyal said.
