Devastating Collision Near Steinbach
A tragic mid-air collision between two small aircraft in Manitoba has left two student pilots dead, sending shockwaves through the local community and the aviation world. The incident occurred on July 8 at approximately 8:45 a.m. in the Rural Municipality of Hanover, about 70 kilometers south of Winnipeg. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), along with fire departments and emergency medical services, responded to the scene just south of Steinbach, where they discovered the wreckage of two single-engine Cessna planes.
According to RCMP Cpl. Melanie Roussel, who spoke at a news conference on the day of the crash, both pilots were pronounced deceased at the scene. There were no passengers aboard either aircraft, a small relief amidst the tragedy. Roussel refrained from releasing details about the victims, noting that the investigation was still in its early stages.
Details of the Victims and Investigation
Further information has since emerged about the identities of the pilots involved in this heartbreaking incident. One of the victims was identified as Savanna May Royes, a 20-year-old woman whose family described her as 'the essence of pure joy' and someone who had always dreamed of becoming a pilot like her father. The other victim was Sreehari Sukesh, a young student pilot from India, as confirmed by the Consulate General of India in Toronto.
The collision is under active investigation by both the RCMP and the Transportation Safety Board of Canada. Adam Penner, president of Harv's Air, the flight school where both pilots were training, shared that the planes were equipped with radios, but it appears the pilots did not see each other before the crash. Penner also noted that the students were practicing takeoffs and landings near a landing strip when the collision occurred, a routine exercise that turned deadly.
Community Impact and Ongoing Questions
The loss of these two young lives has deeply affected the community around Steinbach and the broader aviation training sector. Harv's Air, a well-known pilot training school in the region, is grappling with the tragedy as it supports the families and fellow students of the deceased. The incident raises critical questions about visibility, communication protocols, and safety measures during training flights, especially in busy airspace near landing strips.
As the investigation continues, authorities are working to piece together the sequence of events that led to this mid-air collision. The Transportation Safety Board of Canada will likely examine factors such as weather conditions, pilot experience, and potential mechanical issues with the aircraft. For now, the focus remains on honoring the memory of Savanna May Royes and Sreehari Sukesh, two aspiring pilots whose dreams were cut short in a devastating accident.