NEW DELHI — As the nation reels from the tragic death of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, aviation experts are urging a cautious approach to determining the cause of the accident. Prashant Dhalla, a former Flight Operations Inspector with the DGCA, emphasized today that while the Learjet 45 is a “safe aircraft” and the crew was “highly experienced,” a full investigation is mandatory before reaching conclusions.
The aircraft, operated by VSR Ventures, was carrying Pawar and four others when it crashed and exploded during its second landing attempt at Baramati Airport on Wednesday morning.
Inside the Investigation: Key Facts from the Crash Site
Authorities from the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) and the DGCA have already begun piecing together the final moments of the flight.
1. The Flight Path & “Missed Approach”
Data from Flightradar24 shows the aircraft took off from Mumbai at 8:10 AM. Upon reaching Baramati, the pilots attempted a landing but aborted it—a maneuver known as a “missed approach” or “go-around.” It was during the second attempt to line up with the runway that the plane plunged and burst into flames.
2. The Aircraft: Learjet 45 (VT-SSK)
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Safety Record: Despite the tragedy, the Learjet 45 is generally regarded as a reliable mid-size business jet.
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Operator History: This is the second major incident for operator VSR Ventures in three years. In September 2023, another of their Learjets (VT-DBL) crash-landed at Mumbai Airport during heavy rain.
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Maintenance: VSR officials claim the aircraft was “100% safe” and well-maintained prior to the flight.
3. Experienced Crew on Board
The flight was under the command of two veteran pilots:
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Captain Sumit Kapoor: A highly senior pilot with over 16,000 hours of flying experience.
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First Officer Shambhavi Pathak: An experienced co-pilot with approximately 1,500 hours logged.
Potential Factors Under Review
According to Prashant Dhalla, the investigation will focus on three primary variables:
| Factor | Description |
| Technical Failure | Investigators will check for mechanical faults in the engines or landing gear. |
| Visibility & Weather | While some reports cite 2,000m+ visibility, others mention dense fog and a lack of an Instrument Landing System (ILS) at Baramati. |
| Human Factor | The sequence of the “missed approach” will be analyzed to see if pilot spatial disorientation or reaction time played a role. |
What Happens Next?
The Black Box (Flight Data Recorder and Cockpit Voice Recorder) has been prioritized for recovery. These devices will provide the definitive “last words” and technical data needed to understand why a veteran crew and a proven aircraft met such a violent end.
“It is a very difficult moment. We have lost our pilots and our passengers. We must wait for the DGCA to complete its work.” — Vijay Kumar Singh, Director, VSR Ventures.
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