AAIB Preliminary Report on Baramati Learjet Crash Cites Pilot Error and Visibility Issues
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has released its preliminary report on the fatal Learjet crash at Baramati on January 28, identifying key factors including pilots' non-adherence to standard operating procedures, low visibility conditions, and the absence of basic meteorological facilities at the uncontrolled airfield. The report underscores critical safety lapses that led to the tragedy, which claimed the lives of all five persons on board, including then Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar.
Timeline of the Crash and Communication Breakdown
According to the report, the Learjet operated by VSR Ventures took off from Mumbai and crashed before landing at Baramati. The timeline reveals that the last proper communication between the pilot and the Baramati air traffic controller occurred at 08:43:55 seconds when the co-pilot radioed, "Field in sight." At 08:44:13, the pilot can be heard exclaiming, "Oh s**t, oh s**t" before the aircraft crashed on the left side of the runway. The report does not provide details of what transpired in the final 18 seconds before impact, leaving gaps in the narrative.
CCTV footage from a local gram panchayat office showed the aircraft banking sharply just before the crash. The preliminary report includes a satellite image tracing the probable flight path after a go-around, depicting a green-marked track where the aircraft approached from the right of the runway centreline and never properly aligned with the strip. Based on this track, the aircraft appears to have remained offset to the right of runway 11 before making a pronounced left turn in the final moments.
Conflicting Details and Expert Criticisms
The report states: "As per the CCTV footage installed in a nearby village, the aircraft was observed to have banked towards right before impacting the terrain. The aircraft first impacted the trees before hitting the ground which is at a lower elevation than the runway surface. The ground impact of the aircraft was at a lateral distance of about 50 meters on the left edge of runway 11." However, safety experts have pointed out inconsistencies in the report.
Capt Amit Singh of Safety Matters Foundation highlighted confusion over whether the aircraft sharply banked right or left, noting: "The plotted track shows the aircraft to the right of the runway whereas the report's own narrative indicates the aircraft impacted terrain left of the runway and that the aircraft was in a right bank at impact." He added that the report "remains data-light against reasonable public expectations for evidence-backed transparency, especially given that it confirms that Flight Data Recorder (FDR) data was successfully downloaded." Singh emphasized, "The public does not need conclusions at the preliminary state, but it does need sourced facts."
Rohit Pawar posted on X that the AAIB did not prepare the report with seriousness, reflecting broader concerns about transparency and thoroughness in the investigation.
Safety Recommendations and Future Steps
In its interim safety recommendations, the AAIB has called on the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to ensure stricter compliance with standard operating procedures for flights operating to uncontrolled airfields, particularly adherence to minimum visibility requirements. The Bureau has recommended that aerodrome operators permit operations only when weather conditions meet prescribed criteria and that safety standards at uncontrolled airfields be strengthened through oversight and audits.
Additionally, the AAIB has advocated for the introduction of basic meteorological facilities and improved landing aids to support non-scheduled and charter operations, as well as examining the feasibility of formally licensing such aerodromes for safe, regulated operations. The final report, expected to carry more details, is due on or before January 2, 2027, if deadlines are met.
The preliminary findings highlight a critical need for enhanced safety measures in India's aviation sector, especially at uncontrolled airfields, to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
