Delhi businessman killed in aircraft accident

Meerut: A Delhi-based businessman was today killed after being hit by a two-seater micro-light private plane he owned when he came close to the aircraft at the runway while it was landing as he clicked its photographs.

The pilot Anil Gupta and his colleague Purvi escaped unhurt in the accident at the Partapur airstrip on the outskirts of the city, police said.

The incident occurred around 10 AM when the businessman Yogesh Garg was clicking pictures of the private plane on the airstrip and was hit by one of its wings, local police said.

A police official in Lucknow said the accident happened while the plane was landing. Initial reports had said the mishap occured when the aicraft was moving for take-off.

Yogesh, who ran a consultancy company at New Delhi and owned the aircraft, died on the spot, police said.

Anil Thapa, spokesman of Pankh Aviation, which runs the flying club, said the wing and a wheel of the plane was damaged in the incident, but its pilot and his colleague escaped unhurt.

He claimed that the accident took place as Yogesh came on the airstrip to take pictures of the micro-light aircraft while it was taking off from the runway.

Police said the matter was being investigated and they were trying to find out who allowed Yogesh to come on the runway and take pictures.

Additional District Magistrate Neeraj Shukla, who reached the spot, said preliminary inquiry has revealed that Pankh Aviation was not allowed to use the airstrip.

However, the company claimed that it was giving flying training for the last three to four months.

The ADM said that records of last three to four months were being checked.