NEW DELHI: A “suspected fuel shortage” (running out of fuel) reportedly caused a Red Bird trainer aircraft to make an emergency landing in an open field about 50 to 70 kilometers away from its destination Belagavi on Sunday. Fortunately, both the instructor and student pilot on board the Cessna 172 aircraft (VT-EUC) were safe. The aircraft was damaged. Aviation authorities are investigating the accident.“The Cessna 172 aircraft of the Red Bird Flying Training Institute was on a cross-country flight from Kalaburagi to Belagavi on Sunday and made an emergency landing in an open field near Vijayapura due to a suspected fuel shortage in the aircraft,” the aviation minister said in a statement. The emergency landing location is 50 to 70 kilometers from Belagavi Airport. There were two people on board, a flight instructor and a trainee pilot. Both passengers on the plane were safe. As a result of the impact, the aircraft was damaged… DGCA/AAIB will conduct further investigation. “Operations of the Red Bird were briefly halted by the DGCA in October 2023 after a series of accidents, all of which were fortunately non-fatal. Its operations have resumed following detailed inspections by regulators. With a fleet of 48 aircraft, it is one of the largest flight training schools in India.The plane that ran out of fuel on Sunday was reportedly built in 1975. The flight from Kalaburagi to Belagavi is a short leg of about 300 kilometers and the reason why the plane reportedly ran out of fuel is what the investigation will look into.
