Civil Aviation Ministry drops a bombshell: the Learjet 45 that plummeted in Baramati, snuffing out Deputy CM Ajit Pawar and four lives, had a close call in Mumbai just 16 months prior. September 2023 saw it skid during landing in torrential rains, yet all six passengers walked away unscathed.
VT-DBL, under VSR Ventures’ wing—a firm with 17 aircraft strong—links to another Learjet incident still under AAIB scanner. Fleet details: 7 Learjets, 5 Embraers, 4 King Airs, 1 Pilatus. Permit renewed April 2023, good till 2028. DGCA’s Feb 2025 audit? Spotless on top-tier safety.
Crew was top-notch. Lead pilot: ATPL, 15K hours, medical Nov 2025, proficiency Aug 2025. Co-pilot: CPL, 1.5K hours, July check passed. Pawar flew Mumbai-Baramati for civic polls events. AAIB’s Yugandhar leads on-ground efforts, black box hunt underway.
This pattern of woes for VSR’s jets fuels aviation watchdog scrutiny. From miracle survives to deadly dive, the story grips India. Expect rigorous inquiries to unearth causes, prevent repeats, and honor the lost with safer skies.