A Pilatus PC-7 MK-II basic trainer aircraft of the Indian Air Force crashed near Tambaram in Chennai’s Chengalpattu district on Friday afternoon during a routine training sortie.
According to officials, the lone pilot on board successfully ejected and sustained only minor injuries. He was swiftly rescued by IAF and local emergency teams and taken for a medical evaluation.
Local residents reported hearing a loud noise before spotting the aircraft descending steeply. Within minutes, fire and rescue services reached the crash site, where small flames from the wreckage were extinguished. Eyewitness videos circulating on social media showed debris scattered across an open field. Fortunately, no civilian casualties or property damage were reported.
The crash occurred shortly after the aircraft took off from Air Force Station Tambaram, one of the IAF’s premier training bases. The Pilatus PC-7 MK-II, inducted into service in 2013, forms the backbone of basic flying training for IAF cadets and is known for its strong safety record.
The Air Force confirmed that a Court of Inquiry has been ordered to determine the cause of the accident. Investigators will examine all possibilities, including technical malfunction and human factors.
Despite the incident, training operations at Tambaram continue under established safety protocols as authorities work to piece together the events leading up to the crash.
