Post by : Meena
Hassan
The Learjet aircraft that tragically crashed on Wednesday morning, resulting in the death of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and four other individuals, has had its black box retrieved. This crucial equipment, which houses the Flight Data Recorder and Cockpit Voice Recorder, will undergo thorough analysis to uncover the circumstances surrounding the devastating incident.
The Learjet 45, operated by VSR Ventures from Delhi, was descending for a second landing at Baramati Airport around 8:45 am when it met with misfortune. The passengers included Ajit Pawar, aged 66, along with his personal security officer, an attendant, and the two pilots—Sumit Kapur, the captain, and co-pilot Shambhavi Pathak. Unfortunately, the crash claimed all five lives on board.
Pawar had departed from Mumbai around 8 am to engage in a series of election rallies in Baramati, his hometown, in anticipation of the local body elections. A specialized team from the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau arrived promptly at the crash site to initiate a detailed forensic inquiry.
According to officials from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the cockpit's final communication included the alarming phrase, “oh s***,” indicating a sudden and critical situation. Ground control at Baramati airport, operated by cadets from nearby aviation schools, Redbird Aviation and Carver Aviation, was in constant communication with the aircraft during its landing maneuvers.
The Civil Aviation Ministry provided an overview of the events leading to the crash: The aircraft, marked as VT-SSK, established contact with Baramati airport's ground control at 8:18 am. The pilot, boasting over 15,000 hours of flying experience, and the co-pilot, with around 1,500 hours, were briefed on the weather conditions, noting visibility of approximately 3,000 meters, with a landing clearance given at their discretion.
As the aircraft approached Runway 11, visibility issues prompted the pilot to report that the runway was obscured, leading to instructions for a go-around—a standard procedure when safe landing conditions are unmet. After circling, the crew indicated they could see the runway and received landing clearance at 8:43 am. However, they failed to provide the required readback confirmation for the clearance.
At 8:44 am, air traffic control reported seeing flames near the runway, signifying the plane’s crash.
Authorities are actively investigating to ascertain the exact causes of this tragic event, which has resonated deeply within Maharashtra and throughout the nation.
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