Two Indian students from Tamil Nadu, Puducherry die in Canada air crash during flight training
Two Indian students from Tamil Nadu and Puducherry were killed in a plane crash in Canada during flight training. The victims were identified as Manoj Sivakumar and Srisaran Thirugnanasambantham
Canada air crash: Two Indian students from Tamil Nadu and Puducherry were killed in an aircraft accident in Canada while undergoing flight training, the Consulate General of India in Vancouver said on Sunday. The deceased were identified as Manoj Sivakumar and Srisaran Thirugnanasambantham.
In a post on X, the Indian consulate expressed condolences to the families and said it would provide all possible assistance. This includes helping with the repatriation of the students' mortal remains to India.
The exact circumstances of the crash have not yet been officially detailed.
According to Canadian broadcaster CBC, a Cessna 172 aircraft operated by Harv's Air crashed near Kisbey in Saskatchewan early Friday morning. Two persons on board were killed.
The aircraft had been used for a night cross-country flight from Regina to Steinbach, Manitoba, with a stop planned near Carlyle, Saskatchewan. CBC reported that the two pilots had rented the aircraft to build flying hours required for their commercial pilot licences.
The aircraft was reported overdue after it failed to reach its expected destination. Search and rescue teams later located the wreckage at around 6 pm local time.
Lieutenant Zoë Hollander of the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre in Trenton said a CC-138 Hercules aircraft from 435 Squadron located the crash site. Search and rescue technicians were then dropped by parachute to reach the location.
The case was later handed over to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police after the search and rescue operation ended.
Third serious accident involving Harv's Air since January 2025
The incident is also reported to be the third serious accident involving Harv's Air since January 2025. In January last year, an instructor associated with the flight school suffered serious injuries after being struck by an aircraft propeller.
In July 2025, two student pilots were killed when two single-engine aircraft collided during a training exercise.
Further details about the latest crash and the circumstances surrounding the deaths of the two Indian students are awaited.
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