Indian-Origin Student Pilot Among 2 Killed In Mid-Air Collision In Canada's Steinbach

Toronto: Two people, including an Indian-origin student pilot, were killed in a midair collision in Canada on Tuesday. The tragic incident took place near Steinbach, Manitoba. The deceased Indian student has been identified as Sreehari Sukesh. He was a native of Kerala.

The Indian Consulate in Toronto expressed condolences over Sukesh's death. 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 is in contact with the bereaved family, the pilot training school and local police to provide all necessary assistance,” the Indian Consulate in Toronto said in an X post.

The other pilot has been identified as Savanna May Royes, a 20-year-old Canadian citizen. Royes was a classmate of Sukesh. As per Adam Penner, president of Harv's Air pilot training school, the two students were practising takeoffs and landings in small Cessna single-engine planes when the incident took place, reported NDTV.

According to Penner, it seemed that both pilots tried to land at the same time. The planes reportedly collided just a few hundred yards away from the runway. Radios were installed in the planes. However, both pilots did not see each other coming, reported The New York Post.

Sukesh and Royes died on the spot.