Mumbai: India’s aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), has ordered the immediate grounding of four aircraft operated by VSR Ventures after a detailed safety audit uncovered multiple procedural and maintenance lapses. The action comes weeks after a fatal crash near Baramati claimed the lives of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and four others.
The regulator had initiated a special audit of the company after the Learjet 45 involved in the January 28 crash went down near Baramati airport in Pune district.
Serious Safety Gaps Identified
According to DGCA officials, a multi-disciplinary audit team found several instances where approved procedures were not followed, particularly in areas linked to airworthiness and operational safety.
Following these findings, the regulator directed that four Learjet 40/45 aircraft in the operator’s fleet be grounded until safety standards are fully restored. The aircraft will remain out of service until corrective steps are verified and compliance is ensured.
The DGCA has also issued deficiency reports to the company, asking it to submit a detailed root cause analysis explaining the lapses. Further action will depend on the assessment of these submissions.
AAIB Investigation Underway
The probe into the crash is being handled by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), which is expected to release a preliminary report soon. Authorities have indicated that technical examination and flight data analysis are ongoing.
Meanwhile, speculation and questions have surfaced in some quarters regarding the circumstances surrounding the tragedy, though officials have urged restraint until the investigation concludes.
What Happened on January 28?
Ajit Pawar was travelling to Pune district to address campaign rallies ahead of local body elections when the Learjet encountered difficulties during landing at Baramati.
As per initial official briefings, the aircraft reportedly executed a go-around due to low visibility before being cleared again for landing. However, communication records indicate that the crew did not provide a standard readback to Air Traffic Control after receiving final clearance. Moments later, the aircraft crashed near the runway and caught fire.
A go-around is a routine aviation safety manoeuvre where pilots abort a landing attempt and climb again for another approach, usually due to weather or unstable landing conditions. A readback, on the other hand, is a mandatory communication step where pilots repeat instructions from ATC to confirm accurate understanding.
The crash also claimed the lives of the pilot, co-pilot, a security officer, and a flight attendant.
