Increased Vigilance in Maharashtra Politics Following Tragic Plane Crash

Political Response to the Baramati Plane Crash

Following the tragic plane crash last month that claimed the life of Maharashtra's Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in Baramati, there has been a heightened sense of security awareness within the state's political circles. Reports indicate that Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and his party, Shiv Sena, have decided to refrain from using any aircraft operated by 'VSR Ventures' in the future. The incident on January 28 resulted in the deaths of Ajit Pawar and four others, prompting Shiv Sena leadership to adopt a 'cautious approach.' According to sources, the party has internally advised its leaders to avoid flying on planes operated by VSR. With district council elections scheduled for February, ensuring the safety of leaders has become a top priority.

DGCA Grounds VSR Ventures Aircraft

Earlier, on February 24, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) ordered the grounding of four aircraft operated by VSR Ventures after identifying several safety and procedural deficiencies. Following the crash of a Learjet 45 aircraft (VT-SSK) on January 28, the DGCA mandated a special safety audit for VSR Ventures. The regulator noted that the multidisciplinary audit team found multiple instances of non-compliance with approved procedures related to airworthiness and safety within the organization.

In a statement, the DGCA mentioned, 'Considering the observed non-compliance and deficiencies in maintenance procedures, it has been decided to ground the Learjet 40/45 aircraft with registrations VT-VRA, VT-VRS, VT-VRV, and VT-TRI immediately to initiate corrective measures until airworthiness standards are restored.'

Additionally, the DGCA stated that VSR Ventures has been issued deficiency reporting forms to submit root cause analyses for any non-compliance. The watchdog will assess these submissions before determining the next steps.

Investigation into the Baramati Crash

Meanwhile, the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is expected to release its preliminary report on the fatal Baramati crash before February 28. Despite the ongoing investigation, some individuals have expressed concerns and alleged the possibility of a conspiracy behind the incident.

Details of Ajit Pawar's Plane Crash

On January 28, an aircraft crashed near Baramati Airport in Pune district, resulting in the deaths of Ajit Pawar and four other individuals on board. Pawar had departed from Mumbai that morning to address four rallies in Pune district for the upcoming district council elections on February 5.

Among the other victims were Captain Sumit Kapoor, who had 15,000 hours of flying experience, and co-pilot Captain Shambhavi Pathak, with 1,500 hours of experience, along with Personal Security Officer (PSO) Vidip Jadhav and flight attendant Pinky Mali. The government has released a statement detailing the crash and the circumstances surrounding Pawar's death.

The aircraft, a Learjet, was cleared for landing in Baramati despite poor visibility, but after receiving clearance, it failed to provide any feedback to Air Traffic Control (ATC), and shortly thereafter, a fire broke out near the runway.