The cockpit crew of the aircraft that crashed in Maharashtra’s Baramati were heard saying “oh s***” moments before the accident that killed five people, including Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, NDTV
reported. The 66-year-old NCP leader, his personal security officer, his attendant and two cockpit crew members- pilot-in-command Sumit Kapur and first officer Shambhavi Pathak- died when the Learjet 45 aircraft, operated by Delhi-based VSR Ventures Pvt Ltd, crashed during its second attempt to land at Baramati’s table-top airstrip around 8:45 am.
A specialised team from the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) visited the crash site to initiate a forensic probe into the tragic accident. A Civil Aviation Ministry statement outlined the sequence of events, including a potentially worrying detail that the crew “did not give readback of landing clearance.”
The plane, registered as VT-SSK, established contact with Baramati airport at 8:18 am. Kapur, who had over 15,000 hours of flying experience, and co-pilot Pathak, with about 1,500 hours, were advised of weather conditions and told to land at their discretion. The crew asked about winds and visibility and were informed visibility was around 3,000 metres, which is considered fairly standard and sufficient to attempt a landing.
The aircraft then reported its final approach to Runway 11. Immediately afterwards, the pilot indicated the landing strip was “not in sight” and was instructed to initiate a go-around- a standard procedure when an initial landing is aborted. After the go-around, the crew was asked again about its position and the pilot reported final approach.
Confirmation that the runway was now visible was requested and given. The plane was cleared to land at 8:43 am. However, there was no readback of landing clearance from the crew. Just a minute later, at 8:44 am, Air Traffic Control (ATC) saw flames around the threshold of Runway 11.
The investigation will examine all aspects of the crash, including communication protocols, weather conditions, and the aircraft’s mechanical condition. The AAIB’s forensic probe is expected to provide detailed findings on what led to one of Maharashtra’s most significant aviation tragedies.
