Ajit Pawar plane crash: Aviation ministry to release preliminary report in 30 days

NEW DELHI: The ministry of civil aviation on Thursday said that a preliminary report into the Learjet crash in Baramati that killed former Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar and four others will be made public within 30 days of the accident.In a statement issued through the Press Information Bureau (PIB), the ministry reiterated that the probe is being conducted by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) under established legal and global aviation standards. “In continuation of earlier releases dated 17 February 2026, MoCA reiterates that the investigation into the Learjet 45 (VT-SSK) accident at Baramati on 28 January 2026 is being conducted by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) strictly in accordance with the Aircraft (Investigation of Accidents and Incidents) Rules, 2025 and the Standards and Recommended Practices contained (SARP) in ICAO Annex 13”, the statement read.Providing details about the flight recorders recovered from the aircraft, the ministry stated that technical examination is underway. The ministry further stated, “The aircraft was equipped with two independent flight recorders. The Digital Flight Data Recorder (DFDR), manufactured by L3 Communications, has been successfully downloaded at AAIB’s facility in New Delhi. The Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) sustained thermal damage. As it is manufactured by Honeywell, technical assistance has been sought from the State of Design/Manufacture, in line with para 5.7 and attachment D of ICAO Annex 13.”On the timeline of the investigation, the ministry clarified: “A Preliminary Report will be issued within 30 days of the occurrence, as per ICAO norms, and the Final Report will follow in due course.”The PIB release further emphasised that the AAIB probe is technical and evidence-based, involving systematic examination of the wreckage, operational and maintenance records, and laboratory testing of components wherever required.On regulatory oversight, the ministry said that during 2025, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) conducted 51 regulatory audits of non-scheduled operators. It added that multiple surveillances of M/s VSR Ventures — the operator of the aircraft — were carried out across areas such as flight safety systems, flight duty time limitations, maintenance compliance (CAR M and CAR 145), documentation and station facilities and that “all surveillance findings were addressed and closed.”Following the crash, the ministry directed the DGCA to conduct a Special Audit of M/s VSR Ventures. According to the PIB release, the audit involves a “comprehensive review of regulatory compliance, operational control systems, maintenance practices, crew training standards, safety management systems, and CVR/FDR monitoring.” The audit commenced on February 4 and is expected to conclude shortly, with findings to be reviewed and action taken in accordance with DGCA’s Enforcement Policy and Procedures Manual.The ministry also asked the DGCA to carry out special audits of other major non-scheduled operators and aerodromes engaged in VIP/VVIP operations. These audits are being conducted in phases, and appropriate enforcement action will be taken wherever required.“The Ministry and its regulatory bodies remain fully committed to transparency, safety oversight and accountability. Stakeholders are requested to refrain from speculation and allow the statutory investigation and regulatory processes to proceed in accordance with established procedures,” the statement read.The clarification comes amid political demands for a separate probe. On Tuesday, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) sought a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry into Pawar’s death.A delegation of senior party leaders, including his wife Sunetra Pawar, NCP National Working President and MP Praful Patel, State President and MP Sunil Tatkare, Maharashtra minister Hasan Mushrif and youth leader Parth Pawar, submitted a memorandum to chief minister Devendra Fadnavis seeking a CBI-led investigation.Ajit Pawar and four others were killed on the morning of January 28 when the Learjet 45 (VT-SSK) crashed while attempting to land at Baramati airport in Pune district.