Manoj Sivakumar from Tamil Nadu and Sridharan Thirugnanasambandam from Puducherry died during a training flight; the cause of the crash remains under investigation
Two Indian students were killed in a flight-training accident in Canada, prompting an outpouring of grief in their home states and an assurance of assistance from Indian authorities.
The victims have been identified as Manoj Sivakumar from Tamil Nadu and Sridharan Thirugnanasambandam from Puducherry. They were undergoing flight training in Canada when the aircraft crashed during a routine training flight, according to reports.
The accident has left the families of the two students awaiting further information as Canadian authorities investigate the circumstances surrounding the crash. The precise cause has not yet been established.
The Indian mission in Canada has expressed condolences to the families and said assistance would be provided, including help with arrangements to bring the students’ remains back to India
The deaths have also drawn attention to the risks faced by international students pursuing professional aviation training overseas. Canada is a major destination for students seeking flight-training qualifications, with several aviation schools offering programmes leading towards commercial pilot licences.
Canadian aviation authorities routinely investigate accidents involving training aircraft to determine the circumstances and identify any safety issues. The Transportation Safety Board of Canada has separately been investigating a number of recent training-flight accidents and incidents involving Cessna aircraft.
For the families of Sivakumar and Thirugnanasambandam, however, the immediate priority remains bringing the students home and completing the necessary formalities following the tragedy.
Further details on the crash, including the aircraft’s flight path and the circumstances immediately before the accident, are expected as the Canadian investigation progresses.
