What is the story about?
The recovery of the black box from the ill-fated Learjet 45 that crashed near the Baramati airstrip has marked a crucial step in the investigation into the accident that killed Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and four others.
As multiple agencies probe the tragedy, Union Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu sought the Maharashtra government’s cooperation to ensure a swift and transparent inquiry.
Naidu wrote to Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis requesting assistance in accessing the crash site, securing local administrative support and ensuring coordination with ground agencies. He assured that key findings of the investigation would be shared with the state government, as per news agency PTI.
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), functioning under the Civil Aviation Ministry, is conducting a formal probe into the crash, which occurred during the aircraft’s second attempt to land at the Baramati table-top airstrip.
Fadnavis had earlier urged the Centre to order a detailed investigation and take steps to prevent similar incidents in the future, a request that Naidu said has been taken on board.
Black box recovered, probe gains momentum
The Civil Aviation Ministry confirmed that the flight data recorder, commonly known as the black box, has been recovered. “The investigation is progressing expeditiously, and the black box of the ill-fated aircraft has been recovered,” the ministry said.
Read more: Pilot-aircraft ratio at domestic airlines adequate, says Aviation Ministry
The black box will be central to reconstructing the final moments of the flight.
Investigators are examining cockpit decisions, including why the pilot attempted a second landing at Baramati instead of diverting to Pune, amid questions around weather conditions and runway suitability, CNBC-TV18 reported earlier.
Authorities have said findings from the black box analysis will play a decisive role in establishing the cause of one of Maharashtra’s most serious aviation tragedies.
What investigators are examining
Cockpit audio captured moments before the crash included the words “oh sh*t”, underscoring the suddenness of the incident. A Civil Aviation Ministry statement noted that the crew “did not give readback of landing clearance,” a detail that is now part of the forensic examination, as per News18.
The Maharashtra government has directed the CID to investigate the accidental death report, while AAIB and the DGCA continue their technical probe, as per a report by The Times of India (TOI).
The aircraft, registered as VT-SSK and operated by Delhi-based VSR Ventures Pvt Ltd, established contact with Baramati airstrip at 8:18 am on Wednesday, January 28.
After an initial aborted landing, it was cleared to land again at 8:43 am. Flames were spotted near the runway threshold shortly after.
Read more: Ajit Pawar plane crash: Black Box recovered, investigators scrutinise Baramati landing
The crash claimed the lives of Ajit Pawar (66), pilot-in-command Sumit Kapur, co-pilot Shambhavi Pathak, flight attendant Pinky Mali and Pawar’s personal security officer Vidip Jadhav.
Role of Baramati airstrip under scrutiny
Probe reveals that Baramati is an ‘uncontrolled airfield’ without an instrument landing system, with traffic advisories typically provided by flying training instructors, as per PTI.
There are multiple alleged lapses at the airstrip, including lack of navigational aids, firefighting facilities and emergency support, raising broader concerns about the use of training airfields for VIP and non-scheduled operations, as per a report by Times Now.
As multiple agencies probe the tragedy, Union Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu sought the Maharashtra government’s cooperation to ensure a swift and transparent inquiry.
Naidu wrote to Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis requesting assistance in accessing the crash site, securing local administrative support and ensuring coordination with ground agencies. He assured that key findings of the investigation would be shared with the state government, as per news agency PTI.
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), functioning under the Civil Aviation Ministry, is conducting a formal probe into the crash, which occurred during the aircraft’s second attempt to land at the Baramati table-top airstrip.
Fadnavis had earlier urged the Centre to order a detailed investigation and take steps to prevent similar incidents in the future, a request that Naidu said has been taken on board.
Black box recovered, probe gains momentum
The Civil Aviation Ministry confirmed that the flight data recorder, commonly known as the black box, has been recovered. “The investigation is progressing expeditiously, and the black box of the ill-fated aircraft has been recovered,” the ministry said.
Read more: Pilot-aircraft ratio at domestic airlines adequate, says Aviation Ministry
The black box will be central to reconstructing the final moments of the flight.
Investigators are examining cockpit decisions, including why the pilot attempted a second landing at Baramati instead of diverting to Pune, amid questions around weather conditions and runway suitability, CNBC-TV18 reported earlier.
Authorities have said findings from the black box analysis will play a decisive role in establishing the cause of one of Maharashtra’s most serious aviation tragedies.
What investigators are examining
Cockpit audio captured moments before the crash included the words “oh sh*t”, underscoring the suddenness of the incident. A Civil Aviation Ministry statement noted that the crew “did not give readback of landing clearance,” a detail that is now part of the forensic examination, as per News18.
The Maharashtra government has directed the CID to investigate the accidental death report, while AAIB and the DGCA continue their technical probe, as per a report by The Times of India (TOI).
The aircraft, registered as VT-SSK and operated by Delhi-based VSR Ventures Pvt Ltd, established contact with Baramati airstrip at 8:18 am on Wednesday, January 28.
After an initial aborted landing, it was cleared to land again at 8:43 am. Flames were spotted near the runway threshold shortly after.
Read more: Ajit Pawar plane crash: Black Box recovered, investigators scrutinise Baramati landing
The crash claimed the lives of Ajit Pawar (66), pilot-in-command Sumit Kapur, co-pilot Shambhavi Pathak, flight attendant Pinky Mali and Pawar’s personal security officer Vidip Jadhav.
Role of Baramati airstrip under scrutiny
Probe reveals that Baramati is an ‘uncontrolled airfield’ without an instrument landing system, with traffic advisories typically provided by flying training instructors, as per PTI.
There are multiple alleged lapses at the airstrip, including lack of navigational aids, firefighting facilities and emergency support, raising broader concerns about the use of training airfields for VIP and non-scheduled operations, as per a report by Times Now.
