The helicopter, operated by Lakework Office Club Pvt. Ltd., was carrying Maharashtra Minister Pankaja Munde and others on board on February 2, 2026. After completing four sectors, the aircraft landed at Aurangabad Airport at around 5 PM.
During post-flight inspections, the Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (AME) observed excessive play in the pitch operating link rod of one main rotor blade. The issue was flagged and the helicopter was not released for further operations pending rectification.
The charter-indenting agency was informed around 8 PM, and the next day’s sorties were cancelled at approximately 9 PM, the DGCA said.
Note on Precautionary Grounding of Agusta 109 Helicopter Registration VT-OSC transporting Ms. Pankaja Munde, Hon’ble Minister of the Maharashtra State
Govt. pic.twitter.com/UwzNZaqjZ3
— DGCA (@DGCAIndia) February 3, 2026
The development comes at a time when helicopter safety in Maharashtra is under increased scrutiny. on January 28, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar died after his plane crashed in Maharashtra's Baramati. There were five persons on board when the aircraft crashed.
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Aircraft crash landed at Baramati during landing near threshold at Runway 11, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) had informed in a statement.
In latest development former Maharashtra home minister and senior NCP leader Anil Deshmukh on Tuesday demanded a probe under a high court judge into the plane crash that killed Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, to clear the “suspicion” and “doubt” whether it was an accident or sabotage.
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