A Manitoba-based flight training school is confronting another devastating loss after a Cessna 172 crashed near Kisbey, Saskatchewan on Friday evening, killing both occupants aboard. The incident marks the third major tragedy for Harv's Air in less than two years, reigniting trauma for families already grieving previous losses.
The aircraft, en route from Regina back to the school's base in Steinbach, Manitoba, failed to arrive as scheduled. Authorities discovered the wreckage Friday evening with both occupants deceased. A post-impact fire was reported at the scene, according to the Transportation Safety Board of Canada.
Echoes of Previous Loss
For Loraine and Tim Royes, the news brought back the unbearable pain of losing their daughter, Savanna, in a mid-air collision last July. Two student pilots—Savanna Royes and Sreehari Sukesh—died when their aircraft collided during a training exercise on July 8, 2025.
"Our hearts just literally stopped because there's not one day that goes by that we don't think of Savy and her accident," Loraine Royes said in an emotional statement. "Just knowing that two more lives have been lost and two more families are basically going to face what we have been facing... It's the worst."
Loraine described the moment she learned of her daughter's death. Her husband had been tracking Savanna's flight location when the plane stopped moving in a field below. When he called the school, he said staff told them to "hold on"—words that would haunt the family forever.
"They said 'hold on.' Those two words haunted me for the rest of my life because I knew it wasn't good. My whole body just went into complete shock," Loraine recalled.
She remembered her daughter as exceptionally kind and compassionate. "She was the sweetest person ever. She always put people first... she was just light," Loraine said.
School Responds to Third Incident
Adam Penner, president of Harv's Air, released a statement expressing shock and sadness over the crash. "The entire Harv's Air family is shocked and saddened by this tragedy. Both pilots had close ties to their fellow students and instructors," Penner said.
Harv's Air, which has operated since 1973, has now faced multiple incidents in rapid succession. The pattern has raised questions about safety protocols and oversight within the flight training operation.
Investigation Underway
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada is investigating the circumstances surrounding Friday's crash. Authorities expect to release a preliminary summary of findings later this week.
The repeated tragedies have cast a spotlight on aviation safety in Canada's flight training sector, with families and the aviation community watching closely as investigations proceed.
This story is based on reporting from Global News. For the original article and ongoing coverage, visit Global News.