On December 8, 2025, a Redbird Flight Training Academy aircraft crashed near Suktara airstrip in Madhya Pradesh’s Seoni district after its engine failed around 6:30 PM, striking a 33kV power line and severing it, which plunged 80-90 villages into darkness. Flight instructor Ajeet Anthony and trainee pilot A Chawda sustained minor injuries but were swiftly rescued by alert villagers amid sparks and explosions, highlighting rural India’s vital role in aviation emergencies. Locals allege prior mishaps at the site since the academy’s 2023 operations, raising alarms over lax safety protocols in non-military training near critical infrastructure. From an Indian strategic lens, this exposes vulnerabilities in civil aviation oversight, potentially impacting pilot readiness for defense needs amid rising aerial threats.