The aviation sector is under scrutiny following the recent tragic death of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in a plane crash near Baramati Airport on Wednesday. The crash, involving a Learjet 45 operated by Delhi-based VSR Ventures Pvt. Ltd., also claimed the lives of four others, including the two pilots, Pawar's personal security officer, and a flight attendant.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) have launched investigations into the incident. Preliminary reports suggest that poor visibility and the absence of advanced navigational aids at the Baramati airstrip might have contributed to the crash, which occurred during the aircraft's second landing attempt. The Ministry of Civil Aviation has formed a three-member committee comprising officials from the DGCA and the AAIB to investigate the accident. The black box, containing the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) and Flight Data Recorder (FDR), has been recovered and is being analyzed to determine the cause of the crash.
Adding another layer of concern, it has emerged that the final investigation report of a previous incident involving the same operator, VSR Aviation, remains unpublished. On September 14, 2023, a Learjet 45 (registration VT-DBL) operated by VSR Aviation crash-landed at Mumbai airport amidst heavy rain and low visibility. All eight occupants survived, but the pilots were seriously injured. The aircraft's fuselage broke into two pieces after it veered off Runway 27 during landing, with cockpit warnings sounding before the crash. The AAIB's preliminary report cited adverse weather as a primary factor, likely causing hydroplaning and loss of directional control.
Despite the passage of over two years, the final investigation report on the 2023 Mumbai accident has not been filed or published by the AAIB. Only the preliminary report is available on the official AAIB website. This delay has raised concerns about transparency and accountability in aviation safety investigations.
The recent crash in Baramati has intensified scrutiny of VSR Ventures and the safety of non-scheduled charter operations in India. VSR Ventures, led by Vijay Kumar Singh and Rohit Singh, operates a fleet of 17 aircraft, providing charter, medivac, and private jet leasing services. The DGCA's most recent regulatory audit of the operator, conducted in February 2025, found no level-I findings, indicating no serious safety violations. However, the Baramati crash marks the second serious incident involving the operator in less than three years.
The AAIB's investigation into the Baramati crash will focus on several factors, including visibility conditions, pilot decision-making, operational limitations, and uncontrolled runway factors. Investigators are analyzing radar data, air traffic communication recordings, CCTV footage, and hotline exchanges to reconstruct the flight's final moments. They have also sought airframe and engine logbooks, maintenance records, and crew qualifications from VSR Ventures and the DGCA.
The absence of a final report on the 2023 Mumbai crash involving VSR Aviation raises questions about potential systemic issues and whether lessons learned from that incident could have prevented the tragedy in Baramati. The aviation community awaits the AAIB's findings as investigations continue.
