In a twist deepening the tragedy of Maharashtra’s Baramati plane crash, the Civil Aviation Ministry revealed the doomed Learjet 45’s prior entanglement in a Mumbai landing fiasco. Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar perished alongside four others Wednesday, echoing the jet’s narrow escape on September 14, 2023.
Heavy downpour and fog challenged VT-DBL at Mumbai, ferrying six who beat odds to survive. AAIB’s ongoing inquest now intersects with Baramati’s horror. VSR Ventures’ 17-plane armada—dominated by Learjets—holds valid ops till 2028. Recent DGCA audit cleared major hurdles.
Elite pilots commanded: commander with 15,000 hours (ATPL), fresh certifications into 2025; co-pilot 1,500 hours strong. Pawar campaigned for local elections. Investigators, headed by AAIB’s Yugandhar, fortify crash site for data recorder extraction.
As probes accelerate, this history prompts urgent calls for fleet inspections and operator oversight. The aviation sector braces for findings that could mandate reforms, ensuring such shadows over private flights fade into preventive action.