A woman trainee pilot was hospitalised in India after being struck by a spinning propeller while disembarking a twin-engine training aircraft at an airport in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, aviation authorities said.

The incident occurred on Friday at Chakeri Airport in Kanpur during a nighttime training flight operated by Garg Aviation, a registered flight training organisation. Details emerged only after India's Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) issued an official statement.

According to the DGCA, the cadet was aboard a Tecnam P2006T twin-engine aircraft, registered VT-NBV, along with a flight instructor. After the aircraft landed, the trainee stepped off the plane while the engine was still running and came into contact with the spinning propeller, sustaining injuries to her back.

The cadet was admitted to a hospital in Kanpur, where she is receiving treatment. Her current condition was not specified in the DGCA statement.

India's aviation regulator said it has launched a formal investigation into the accident. The flight instructor involved has been suspended from flying training duties pending the outcome of the probe. The DGCA also ordered the aircraft grounded for the duration of the investigation.

Propeller strike incidents, though relatively rare, are among the most serious hazards in light aviation and can cause severe or fatal injuries. Standard flight training protocols require all personnel to remain clear of aircraft propellers whenever engines are running.

The DGCA oversees civil aviation safety across India, including the regulation of flight training organisations and the licensing of pilots.

Source: India Today