Kerala Student Among Two Killed in Canada Mid-Air Training Collision
An Indian student pilot from Kerala was one of two trainees killed in a mid-air collision involving two training aircraft in Canada’s Manitoba province on Tuesday.
The deceased has been identified as Sreehari Sukesh, a native of Tripunithura, Kerala. The other victim was Savanna May Royes, a fellow student at the same flight school.
The crash occurred around 8:45 AM on July 8 in the Rural Municipality of Hanover, near Steinbach — a town approximately 50 km southeast of Winnipeg. Both pilots were flying single-engine training aircraft operated by Harv’s Air, a private flight school in the area. Police confirmed there were no passengers aboard either plane, and both pilots were pronounced dead at the scene.
According to reports, the two trainees were practicing takeoffs and landings when their planes collided mid-air while attempting to land simultaneously. The Transportation Safety Board of Canada has launched a formal investigation into the accident.
India’s Consulate General in Toronto confirmed Sukesh’s identity in a post on X (formerly Twitter), expressing condolences:
“With profound sorrow, we mourn the tragic passing of Mr. Sreehari Sukesh, a young Indian student pilot, who lost his life in a mid-air collision near Steinbach, Manitoba. We extend our deepest condolences to his family.”
The Consulate added that it is in contact with the victim’s family, the flight school, and Canadian authorities to provide necessary support.
Sukesh, according to public information, had studied in Kochi before moving to Canada to pursue flight training. His social media described him as a private pilot and included the quote: “Once you have tasted flight, nothing else will stop you.”
The tragedy has cast a shadow over Harv’s Air and the wider aviation training community in Canada, with tributes pouring in for both young pilots.
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