A tragic plane crash occurred shortly after takeoff from Jamshedpur Sonari Airport on Tuesday. The two-seater trainee aircraft, operated by Alchemist Aviation, went down into the Chandil Dam just minutes after departure. Both pilots on board, Captain Shuthrananda and Trainee Pilot Lanadeep Dutt, are currently missing.
The aircraft took off at 11 am, but lost contact with air traffic control just 15 minutes later. Authorities at Sonari Airport and local administration were alerted about the missing plane. East Singhbhum and Seraikela police, with assistance from Alchemist Aviation Company owner Mrinala Kanti Pal, initiated a search operation.
Eyewitnesses reported that the plane was seen hovering over a hill near Nimdih around noon before crashing into the dam. Despite extensive search efforts by the Jamshedpur police and Seraikela SP Mukesh Lunayat, the plane and its occupants were not immediately found.
The search continued late into the night by motor vehicle and resumed this morning with the help of an NDRF team from Ranchi. As of now, there is still no trace of the plane or the two pilots.