Steinbach, Manitoba – July 10.
Two student pilots tragically lost their lives following a mid-air collision involving two training aircraft near Steinbach South Airport in Manitoba on Tuesday morning. The accident occurred around 8:45 a.m. local time during a routine flight training session conducted by Harv’s Air, a well-known local flight school.
The victims have been identified as Sreehari Sukesh, 23, a student from Thrippunithura, Kerala, India, and Savanna May Royes, 20, a Canadian national. Both were the sole occupants of their respective aircraft—a Cessna 172 and a Cessna 152—and were participating in a “touch-and-go” training exercise, a standard maneuver where pilots repeatedly land and take off without coming to a full stop.
According to preliminary reports from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), the collision occurred approximately 400 meters from the runway. Initial assessments suggest that a communication error between the two planes may have contributed to the crash. Investigators from the RCMP and the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) have launched a full investigation into the incident to determine the exact cause and contributing factors.
“This is a devastating incident,” said Adam Penner, president of Harv’s Air. “Safety has always been our highest priority. In over 50 years of operation, we have never experienced a fatal accident. Our entire team is grieving this loss.” Penner further noted that while the planes were equipped with radios, it appears the pilots did not see each other approaching.
Witnesses reported hearing an unusual engine noise followed by a loud bang. Emergency responders arrived at the scene shortly after and confirmed both pilots were deceased. The wreckage of the two planes crashed into a field about 400 meters from the airstrip.
RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Melanie Roussel noted that mid-air training collisions are extremely rare in Canada. “This is a very tragic situation. We are supporting the investigation and working with the families during this difficult time,” she said.
Canada’s Minister of Transport, Chrystia Freeland, extended condolences and confirmed that a ministerial observer will be assigned to monitor the TSB’s investigation closely. The Indian Consulate General in Toronto has expressed “profound sorrow” over Sreehari’s passing and is in contact with his bereaved family, the flight school, and local police to provide all necessary assistance, including repatriation efforts for his body.
Sreehari Sukesh had already completed his private pilot license and was training to earn a commercial license, a crucial step for aspiring professional pilots. His family, residing in Thrippunithura, Kerala, has appealed to Indian authorities for help in bringing his body back home.
The TSB has commenced collecting flight records, communication logs, and aircraft maintenance data as part of its ongoing inquiry. Flight operations at Harv’s Air have been temporarily suspended, and counselors have been brought in for staff and students to cope with the tragedy. This incident has sent shockwaves through Canada’s aviation training community and has raised questions about airspace management and communication protocols during student flight operations.
