New Delhi: Investigators have recovered the black box of the Learjet aircraft that crashed in Baramati, Maharashtra, killing Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and four others on board. The recovery was made a day after the tragic accident, marking a crucial step in determining the cause of the crash.
The black box, which includes the Flight Data Recorder and the Cockpit Voice Recorder, will be examined to reconstruct the final moments of the flight. A specialised team from the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau has begun a detailed forensic investigation after visiting the crash site shortly after the incident.
The Learjet 45 went down around 8:45 am while attempting a second approach to Baramati Airport. The aircraft was operated by Delhi-based VSR Ventures. Ajit Pawar, aged 66, was travelling to his hometown to address multiple election rallies ahead of local body polls. He had departed Mumbai around 8 am. Also killed in the crash were his personal security officer, an attendant, and two cockpit crew members, pilot-in-command Sumit Kapur and first officer Shambhavi Pathak.
According to aviation officials, the aircraft established contact with Baramati airport at 8:18 am. The crew was informed of prevailing weather conditions and advised to land at their discretion. Visibility was reported to be around 3,000 metres. The pilots initially attempted a landing on Runway 11 but later reported that the runway was not in sight, prompting air traffic control to instruct a go-around, a standard safety procedure.
After repositioning, the aircraft again reported a final approach and confirmed runway visibility. Clearance to land was given at 8:43 am, though officials noted that the crew did not provide a readback of the landing clearance. At 8:44 am, air traffic control observed flames near the threshold of Runway 11, indicating the crash.
Officials also noted that ground control operations at Baramati are handled by pilot cadets from local aviation academies. The analysis of cockpit conversations and flight parameters is expected to clarify whether weather, communication gaps, or technical factors contributed to the accident. The investigation remains ongoing as authorities work to piece together the sequence of events that led to the fatal crash.
