Private jet firm in Ajit Pawar crash flagged for maintenance and pilot-training lapses in earlier 2023 accident
The report also faults the DGCA and says its audit and surveillance into VSR Ventures Pvt Limited failed to find the shortcomings discovered by the investigation into 2023 crash
In 2023, a private jet operated by VSR Ventures crashed at Mumbai International Airport, injuring six people but causing no fatalities. The crash occurred during heavy rain and low visibility. The Accident Investigation Bureau report found that the pilots of the Learjet 45XR may have felt pressured to land despite the poor weather, rather than aborting the approach due to the closing window for private-jet landings at the airport.
The crash site is near Baramati, where on January 28, 2024, another VSR Ventures jet crashed, killing all five people on board, including Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar. The investigation found gaps in the aircraft's maintenance records, with incomplete logbook entries and missing details such as inspection and work-order information.
Additionally, several training elements were marked as "not applicable" in the pilots' records, despite being mandatory. The aviation regulator DGCA has grounded four of VSR Ventures' aircraft and is introducing a safety ranking system for charter operators, requiring them to disclose aircraft age and pilot experience on their websites.
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