Manitoba RCMP speak to media following a midair collision between two single-engine planes in Manitoba that killed two pilots.
Two student pilots have died following a mid-air crash between two planes near Steinbach, Man., Tuesday morning, a flight school in the area confirmed.
Adam Penner, one of the owners of flight school Harv’s Air, said the student pilots were trying to land the two planes at the same time when the collision occurred. He said the close-knit group of students and staff are devastated about what happened.
“It’s very tough, we’re kind of a small family here,” he said.
steinbach plane crash Smoke rises in the distance at the site of a collision involving two planes near Steinbach, Man., on July 8, 2025. (Lucille Plett)
According to RCMP, officers were notified of the crash at 8:45 a.m. in the Rural Municipality of Hanover.
RCMP, fire department and emergency medical services responded and found the wreckage of two small, single-engine aircraft south of Steinbach. Penner said the planes involved were a Cessna 152 and a Cessna 172.
Penner said the crash happened while the students were practicing takeoffs and landings.
Signage for the Steinbach South Airport which is in close proximity to the scene of a crash involving two aircraft near Steinbach, Man., Tuesday July 8, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/David Lipnowski Signage for the Steinbach South Airport which is in close proximity to the scene of a crash involving two aircraft near Steinbach, Man., Tuesday July 8, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/David Lipnowski
RCMP said the two pilots of the planes were pronounced dead at the scene. There were no passengers on board either plane. Their names have not been released.
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada has been notified and is investigating.
Steinbach plane crash Manitoba RCMP are investigating after two planes crashed near Steinbach, Man. on July 8, 2025. (Jeff Keele/CTV News Winnipeg)
-With files from CTV’s Jeff Keele