The Ministry of Civil Aviation has set up a three-member inquiry panel to investigate the aircraft crash in Baramati that claimed the lives of Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar and four others on January 28.

In an official statement, the ministry said a team from the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau, along with another three-member group from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation’s Mumbai regional office, reached the crash site on the day of the incident. The Director General of the AAIB also visited the location of the Learjet 45 accident to personally oversee the probe.

“The investigation is moving forward swiftly, and the black box of the aircraft has been recovered,” the ministry said in a post on X, underlining that a detailed, transparent and time-bound inquiry remains its highest priority.

Black box secured
Officials confirmed that both the cockpit voice recorder and the flight data recorder, together referred to as the black box, have been retrieved. These will be examined to piece together the final moments of the flight.

Reiterating its commitment to a comprehensive investigation, the ministry said the probe has been launched in line with Rules 5 and 11 of the AAIB Rules, 2025, and will strictly follow established standard operating procedures.

Key focus areas of the probe
Investigators are examining visibility conditions, pilot decision-making and the operational constraints of Baramati, which functions as an uncontrolled airfield. The crash occurred during the aircraft’s second landing attempt.

A specialised AAIB team arrived at the site on Wednesday evening and began forensic work, including securing the wreckage, mapping the debris field and collecting vital evidence. Authorities have sought detailed airframe and engine logbooks, maintenance and inspection records, work orders and onboard documentation from the aircraft’s operator, Delhi-based VSR Ventures Pvt. Ltd. Crew qualification details and certification records have also been obtained from the DGCA.

Investigators are also analysing radar inputs, air traffic communication logs, CCTV footage and hotline records to reconstruct the sequence of events leading up to the crash.

The business jet, registered as VT-SSK, was operating a chartered Mumbai to Baramati flight when it went down at around 8.44 am, killing all five people on board, including two pilots and three passengers, among them Ajit Pawar.

Second landing attempt under review
According to the civil aviation ministry, the aircraft took off from Mumbai at 8.10 am and made contact with Baramati airfield at 8.18 am. During the first approach to Runway 11, the crew reported that the runway was not visible and carried out a standard go-around. After repositioning, the crew informed the airfield that they would report once the runway came into sight.

At 8.43 am, clearance to land was given, but no readback was received. About a minute later, airfield staff noticed flames near the runway threshold, triggering an emergency response.

Baramati operates as an uncontrolled airfield where air traffic information services are handled by flying training organisations rather than the Airports Authority of India, a factor expected to play a significant role in the investigation.

Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu said initial inputs suggested poor visibility but cautioned against premature conclusions. “The AAIB is the competent authority and will determine the facts through a transparent and accountable investigation,” he said.

The DGCA noted in its preliminary assessment that the crew had been advised to descend under visual meteorological conditions at the pilot’s discretion, with visibility reported at around 3,000 metres and calm wind conditions.

Operator rules out technical failure
Vijay Kumar Singh, director and principal stakeholder of VSR Ventures Pvt. Ltd, said the aircraft was well maintained and airworthy. “Based on the information available to us, there was no technical malfunction. The pilot executed a missed approach due to visibility issues and attempted a second landing. This is a deeply unfortunate tragedy,” he said.

Singh added that the captain had logged more than 16,000 flying hours, while the co-pilot had around 1,500 hours of experience, describing both as seasoned professionals.

The pilot of the aircraft carrying Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar and four others informed Air Traffic Control that the runway was clearly visible moments before the plane crashed and burst into flames in Baramati on Wednesday, according to people familiar with the matter. They added that no SOS or distress call was issued before the crash.

None of the occupants survived the accident. Footage from the site showed thick plumes of smoke rising from the burning aircraft, with debris scattered across the area.

Pawar was on his way to address a rural election rally in Baramati, his family stronghold located around 250 kilometres from Mumbai.

Air Traffic Control at Baramati is handled on alternate days by two flying schools, Redbird and Carver Aviation. On Wednesday, ATC operations were managed by Carver Aviation.

Pramesh Parikh, a manager at Carver Aviation, said the aircraft was scheduled to land at 8.50 am and that the pilot had reported clear visibility of the runway. “Baramati has a runway measuring 1,770 metres. We did not see the aircraft land, but we heard the crash. There may have been a visibility issue,” he said.

Eyewitnesses said the pilot attempted a go-around, which is a standard aviation procedure.

The Learjet 45, a mid-size business jet, had taken off from Mumbai at 8.10 am. It was flown by Captain Sumit Kapoor with first officer Shambavi Pathak. Pinky Mali was the flight attendant on board, while Pawar’s personal security officer, Vidhit Jadhav, was the fifth passenger.

Baramati airport was earlier managed by Anil Ambani’s Reliance Airport Developers before being handed over to the Maharashtra Airport Development Company. The airport was constructed by the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation in 1996 and was among five airports in the state once managed by Reliance Airport Developers.