Collision in Clear Skies: Young Pilot Killed in Manitoba Mid-Air Crash Leaves Aviation Community Stunned
It was a clear, calm morning—ideal flying conditions in southern Manitoba. But within seconds, everything changed.
Two planes, two aspiring pilots, one trusted training school. And now, one young life tragically cut short.
Authorities are investigating how a seemingly routine flight exercise turned catastrophic when two Cessna aircraft collided mid-air near Steinbach, Manitoba on Tuesday morning, July 8.
The accident, which occurred shortly before 9 a.m., has left the aviation training community reeling—and searching for answers.
A Fatal Convergence Moments Before Landing
The collision happened just a few hundred meters from the runway at Harv’s Air, a respected flight training academy that has operated safely for more than 50 years. According to the school’s president, Adam Penner, both aircraft were piloted by students and were in the process of performing circuit exercises—practice takeoffs and landings that are standard for flight students.
Penner told local media that despite the aircraft being radio-equipped and standard procedures in place, the two pilots somehow found themselves on intersecting flight paths. “It’s baffling. Both were following protocol, both had radios. We’re still trying to understand how they got that close without seeing each other.”
Tragically, both pilots were killed on impact. Among them was 20-year-old Savanna May Royes, a student pilot whose enthusiasm and joyful spirit left a lasting impression on everyone she met.
“She was light, laughter, and love in motion,” her family wrote in a statement. “She chased her dreams with courage, and she made us all proud every single day.”
Eyewitnesses Describe the Horror
Nearby residents Lucille and Nathaniel Plett were outside their home when the crash occurred. “We heard a sharp, metallic crack, like metal snapping,” Lucille said. “Then silence. And a few seconds later, a terrible boom.”
The couple rushed toward the airfield and saw a column of smoke billowing into the sky. “It was just so fast. One moment everything was normal, the next, devastation.”
Emergency crews responded quickly, but there was little they could do. The crash site revealed twisted wreckage, blackened debris, and the haunting finality of a dream undone.
A Training School with a Strong Reputation
Founded in the early 1970s, Harv’s Air is known internationally for its pilot training programs. Students from around the world come to learn both recreational and commercial flying skills, and incidents have been extremely rare in the school’s long history.
Penner noted that one of the students involved was relatively new to flight training, while the other was approaching commercial-level certification. “It’s a heartbreaking loss—for both families, for our school, and for the aviation community as a whole.”
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) has launched a full investigation. A team of inspectors is now reviewing flight paths, radio transmissions, aircraft conditions, and training records in hopes of identifying what went wrong in the final moments before impact.
Unanswered Questions and a Grieving Community
As friends, classmates, and fellow pilots gather to mourn, many are left with the same gnawing question: How could this happen?
In an industry defined by checklists, precision, and constant communication, mid-air collisions between training aircraft are extremely rare—especially in clear weather under visual flight rules. Some aviation experts speculate about potential miscommunication, frequency interference, or visibility blind spots during landing approaches. But for now, these are only theories.
“There’s no closure yet,” said fellow student Lian Dhillon. “We’re grieving, but we’re also afraid. If it could happen to Savanna, it could happen to any of us.”
A Legacy of Passion and Promise
Savanna’s passion for flying was infectious. A gifted student and natural leader, she had long dreamed of one day piloting commercial airliners and mentoring younger women in aviation. Friends say she lit up the cockpit and brought that same energy to every part of her life.
“She flew with confidence and joy,” said her instructor, choking back tears. “The skies felt safer with her in them.”
Final Thoughts
What was meant to be just another training session became a moment that will forever mark the lives of two families, one school, and an entire profession. As investigators work to uncover the truth, the tragedy serves as a chilling reminder that even in the clearest skies, vigilance must never waver.
While the cause remains unknown, the loss is painfully clear. And as candles are lit and memorials begin to take shape, one truth remains: Savanna Royes soared boldly—and her legacy won’t be forgotten.