Training academy’s aircraft hardlands at Baramati airport & veers off runway, trainee pilot safe

Pune: A trainee pilot had a close shave on Saturday morning after an aircraft of Redbird Flight Training Academy hardlanded at Baramati airport and veered off the runway, after he sighted a flock of birds just before touchdown.A source said the sole trainee pilot in the aircraft did not suffer any major injuries. Deputy superintendent of police (DSP), Baramati, Sudarshan Rathod told TOI, "No criminal offence has been registered pertaining to the incident. AAIB (Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau) will investigate the matter and record a detailed statement of the pilot in the process. We will get it in a few days. Only then, the exact reason of the accident can be ascertained."A senior official of Redbird Flight Training Academy said, "The (trainee) pilot was flying solo on a single-engine JC 2008 aircraft of Italian make. A flock of birds came in front of the plane just before landing, distracting him. As a result, the aircraft had a heavy touchdown and its nose wheel was damaged. The instructor was there and the whole incident was recorded on CCTV cameras."He said, "The (trainee) pilot was instructed to make a go-round, following which the aircraft was airborne again. As the damaged nose wheel got depressed, the plane made a rough landing."Sources identified the trainee pilot as Vivek Yadav. The airstrip the Redbird Academy uses for training is managed and maintained by the MIDC (Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation).