Maharashtra CM Writes to Amit Shah Seeking Inquiry Into Baramati Air Crash
Fadnavis seeks probe into Ajit Pawar crash after safety and procedural concerns raised.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has written to Union Home Minister Amit Shah seeking a detailed investigation into the January 28 air crash near Baramati that claimed the life of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and four others.
The move follows concerns raised by NCP-SC MLA Rohit Pawar, who submitted a representation highlighting multiple issues related to the crash. In his letter, Fadnavis noted that “a number of concerns have been raised by public representatives regarding the circumstances leading to the incident,” and called for a comprehensive inquiry into the matter.
The letter outlined several areas requiring scrutiny, including the safety record of the aircraft operator, M/s VSR Ventures, which was reportedly involved in a previous accident in 2023. It also raised questions regarding regulatory compliance, aircraft maintenance history, technical logs, and the functioning of onboard safety systems.
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Concerns were also flagged over flight crew deployment and adherence to duty norms, including reports of last-minute pilot replacement. Additionally, discrepancies in flight data—such as differences between air traffic control records and flight radar data, loss of the aircraft’s transponder signal, and cockpit recording issues—were highlighted for investigation.
The communication further pointed to operational decisions during the landing approach, including attempts to land in low visibility, runway selection, and the decision not to divert to an alternate airport. It also called for a review of regulatory oversight and the effectiveness of supervision exercised over the aircraft operator.
Fadnavis assured full cooperation from the state government, stating that Maharashtra would assist investigating agencies in every possible way. Meanwhile, Rohit Pawar has intensified demands for accountability, including calling for the resignation of Union Civil Aviation Minister K. Rammohan Naidu, alleging links between the operator and political entities. The probe is expected to play a crucial role in determining the cause of the crash and addressing safety concerns in the aviation sector.
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