A devastating mid-air collision between two small training aircraft claimed the lives of two student pilots Tuesday morning at a flight school in Manitoba, Canada — including 20-year-old Savanna May Royes, remembered by her loved ones as “the essence of pure joy.”
The fatal incident occurred at approximately 8:45 a.m. at Harv’s Air Pilot Training School in Steinbach, a rural aviation facility located about 42 miles south of Winnipeg. The crash involved two single-engine Cessna planes being used for routine takeoff and landing practice by student pilots.
According to the school’s president, Adam Penner, it appears that both aircraft were attempting to land at the same time when they collided mid-air, just a few hundred yards from the runway. While the Cessnas were equipped with communication radios, it seems the pilots were unaware of each other’s position — a detail that has left the school reeling.
“We don’t understand how they could get so close together,” Penner told CBC News. “We’ll have to wait for the investigation.”
Both pilots were pronounced dead at the scene. One of the students had only recently begun flight training, while the other — believed to be nearing qualification for a commercial license — was more advanced.
Authorities have not officially released the names of the victims, but family members have confirmed the identity of one pilot: Savanna May Royes. In a statement, her grieving family paid tribute to her radiant spirit and unwavering faith.
“Savanna was the essence of pure joy,” they said. “Her laughter and love of life left a mark on everyone she met. Though her time with us was short, her light was profound.”
Eyewitnesses Recall Horror
Nearby residents Lucille and Nathaniel Plett, who live close to the training facility, said they knew something was terribly wrong when they heard the sounds from the sky.
“We heard a crackling, banging sound, and then the engine just stopped,” Lucille told Global News. “At first I thought maybe it was just stunt flying like they sometimes do here… but then we heard a loud crash — a big bang — and we knew it wasn’t a drill.”
Nathaniel added, “I looked outside and saw a black column of smoke rising into the sky. Not long after, there was another explosion and an even bigger plume.”
A Rare and Shocking Accident
Harv’s Air Pilot Training School is known for its long-standing safety record. Founded in the 1970s by Penner’s parents, the school has trained thousands of pilots from around the world over the past five decades.
“For over 51 years, we’ve been providing top-tier flight instruction in the safest, most enjoyable way possible,” reads a statement on the school’s website.
Tuesday’s incident marks a rare and tragic deviation from that history.
Investigation Underway
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada has launched an investigation and dispatched a team to the crash site. The circumstances surrounding the collision — including why the pilots failed to avoid each other — are now under close examination by aviation authorities.
As the investigation unfolds, tributes continue to pour in for Savanna Royes. Her family, friends, and peers within the close-knit aviation community are left mourning the loss of a young woman whose future was just beginning to take flight.
“She had dreams. She had faith. She had laughter that filled a room,” said one close friend on social media. “She flew with purpose — and now, she flies forever.”