Two student pilots die in midair collision while training in Canada.

Two student pilots tragically lost their lives on Tuesday morning following a midair collision involving their training aircraft during a session in southern Canada. The incident occurred near Steinbach, a city located in Manitoba, approximately 45 miles north of the Minnesota border.

Authorities were alerted to the collision just before 9 a.m. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), alongside fire and emergency medical services, swiftly responded to the scene where they discovered the wreckage of two small single-engine planes. Both pilots were pronounced dead at the site of the accident. The RCMP confirmed that there were no other individuals aboard the aircraft at the time of the incident.

Adam Penner, president of Harv’s Air, the flight training school where the students were enrolled, reported that both individuals were engaged in practice maneuvers involving takeoffs and landings. Preliminary details suggest that the collision occurred during their approach to land, though the specifics of how the two planes intersected remain unclear. Investigation into the causes of the accident is ongoing.

The names of the deceased pilots have not been officially released. However, family members of one of the victims, identified as 20-year-old Savanna May Royes, shared a statement reflecting on her vibrant personality. They described her as the “essence of pure joy,” and expressed that her faith and laughter would resonate with all those fortunate enough to have known her.

As the authorities continue their investigations, they are urging witnesses or anyone with pertinent information regarding the collision to come forward. This heartbreaking incident has sent ripples through the local community and the broader aviation training sector, raising concerns about flight safety protocols during training sessions.

Flight training can be inherently dangerous, and this tragic occurrence underscores the importance of rigorous safety measures and operational guidelines to protect aspiring pilots. The investigation, which will be conducted by both the RCMP and aviation safety experts, aims to uncover the circumstances surrounding this accident and prevent similar incidents in the future.

The community of Steinbach and those connected to the training school are mourning the loss of two promising lives cut short too soon. In this time of recovery and reflection, support services have been made available for those affected by the tragedy.