BATHINDA, Punjab, May 7 — One person was killed and nine others were injured early Wednesday after an unidentified aircraft crashed and caught fire in Aklian Kalan village, about 20 kilometers from the Bathinda district headquarters, authorities said.
The deceased was identified as Govind, a farm laborer from Charkhi Dadri, Haryana.
He died instantly when the aircraft wreckage exploded shortly after the crash, which occurred around 2 a.m. in a harvested wheat field, roughly 500 meters from the nearest homes.
“There was a loud sound and then we saw flames rising from the fields,” said Sukhdev Singh, a resident who was among the first to reach the site.
“Some of us were nearby when it exploded again, just as people got closer.”
According to local eyewitnesses, several laborers were resting near a grain market late Tuesday night when they noticed an aircraft flying unusually low. Within moments, it crashed into the open fields, igniting a fire that drew villagers to the scene.
The second explosion injured nine people, all of whom were taken to nearby hospitals for treatment.
Officials have yet to confirm the type or origin of the aircraft, and there is no word on whether a pilot was aboard.
The crash site has been secured by police and forensic teams, and a full investigation is underway.
“We are treating this as a priority case. All relevant agencies are involved in identifying the aircraft and understanding what led to the crash,” said a district administration official on condition of anonymity.
The incident has sparked speculation in the region, though authorities have urged residents to remain calm and await official updates.
