Three-Member Team Constituted to Probe Ajit Pawar Plane Crash
A three-member team has been formed by the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) to investigate the Baramati plane crash on January 28 that claimed the lives of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and four others.
According to the Ministry, the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) team, along with a three-member group from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Mumbai Regional Office, reached the crash site on the day of the accident. The AAIB Director General also visited the site to oversee the probe.
“The investigation is progressing expeditiously, and the black box has been recovered,” the Ministry said in a statement on X, emphasizing that a “thorough, transparent, and time-bound inquiry remains a top priority.”
Black Box Recovered
Both the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder have been retrieved and will be analysed to reconstruct the aircraft’s final moments. The investigation is being conducted under Rules 5 and 11 of the AAIB Rules, 2025, and follows strict Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
Key Focus Areas
Investigators are examining visibility conditions, pilot decisions, and operational limitations at Baramati, an uncontrolled airfield, as crucial elements of the probe. The crash occurred during the aircraft’s second attempt to land.
A specialised AAIB team has initiated forensic procedures, including securing the wreckage, mapping debris, and collecting critical evidence. Investigators have also sought airframe and engine logbooks, maintenance records, inspection histories, work orders, and onboard documents from the aircraft operator, VSR Ventures Pvt. Ltd. Crew qualifications and aircraft certification documents have been requisitioned from the DGCA.
Radar data, air traffic communication recordings, CCTV footage, and hotline exchanges are also being analysed to reconstruct the sequence of events.
Sequence of Events
The business jet, VT-SSK, operating a Mumbai–Baramati charter flight, crashed around 8:44 am, killing all five onboard, including two pilots and three passengers. The aircraft departed Mumbai at 8:10 am and made first contact with Baramati at 8:18 am. During its initial approach to Runway 11, the crew reported the runway was not visible and executed a standard go-around.
During the second approach, the aircraft informed the airfield it would report when the runway came into view. At 8:43 am, it was cleared to land, but no readback of the clearance was received. About a minute later, airfield personnel observed flames near the runway threshold, prompting an immediate emergency response.
Baramati, being an uncontrolled airfield, is managed by flying training organisations rather than the Airports Authority of India, a factor investigators consider significant.
Preliminary Findings
Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu noted that poor visibility may have contributed but cautioned against early conclusions. The DGCA stated the crew had been advised to descend under visual meteorological conditions, with reported visibility of around 3,000 metres and calm winds.
Operator Statement
VSR Ventures Pvt. Ltd director Vijay Kumar Singh confirmed the aircraft was well-maintained and airworthy. “There was no technical fault. The pilot executed a missed approach due to visibility and attempted a second landing. This is an extremely unfortunate incident,” Singh said. He added that the captain had over 16,000 flying hours, while the co-pilot had around 1,500 hours, both being experienced professionals.
