CCTV Footage Provides Critical Breakthrough in Maharashtra Deputy CM's Fatal Learjet Crash Probe
Investigators examining Wednesday's tragic Learjet crash that claimed the life of Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar and four others have obtained a crucial new lead from an unexpected source. The final seven seconds of CCTV footage recorded near Baramati airport have dramatically shifted the focus of the ongoing investigation.
The Pivotal Seven-Second Sequence
The footage was captured by a fixed CCTV camera installed at the Gojubavi village gram panchayat office, located some distance from the runway. This camera was not positioned for aviation monitoring purposes and had partial visual obstructions from buildings, trees, and overhead cables, making the captured images particularly valuable despite their limitations.
According to the time stamp analysis, the aircraft entered the camera's field of view at 08:43:58, descending toward the runway. Two seconds later, at 08:44:00, the Learjet underwent an abrupt and pronounced roll to the left, with the bank angle increasing suddenly to nearly 90 degrees. Aviation experts described this maneuver as resembling the breakaway actions typically executed by fighter jets.
The aircraft was in a near-vertical orientation as it continued its descent in this abnormal attitude. Within another second or two, the Learjet disappeared from view due to obstructions along the CCTV camera's line of sight. At 08:44:05, a fireball soared upward, confirming the aircraft had impacted the ground.
Shifting Investigation Focus
The short interval between the onset of the steep roll and the crash suggests that the loss of control occurred while the aircraft was still airborne at low altitude. "The pilots had no time or altitude to recover and execute a second go-around," explained an A320 commander familiar with the investigation.
This new evidence has shifted attention away from initial theories focusing on low visibility during landing as the probable cause. While visibility issues did play a role in the sequence of events, the footage reveals a more complex scenario than a simple controlled flight into terrain (CFIT) accident.
Visibility Issues and Landing Attempts
Senior pilots analyzing the footage confirmed that low visibility did initiate the chain of events leading to the accident. During the final approach on runway 11, the crew reported to Baramati air traffic control that the runway was not in sight and initiated a go-around. This was confirmed in a statement issued by the Ministry of Civil Aviation on the day of the accident.
During the second landing attempt, the pilots again reported visibility issues. "After a few seconds they reported runway is in sight and the aircraft was cleared to land," the ministry statement noted, adding that the pilot did not give a read-back of the landing clearance, which deviates from standard radio communications protocol.
Possible Causes Under Investigation
Aviation experts have proposed several possible explanations for the abrupt left roll captured in the footage:
- Engine failure leading to asymmetry and possible application of incorrect rudder input
- Technical problems with control surfaces
- Late visual acquisition of the runway below decision height, followed by excessive correction attempts
"It's possible that they visually spotted the runway late, when they were well below the decision height of about 200 meters above ground," explained another commander. "Then they tried to align the aircraft to the runway to land, and the aircraft went out of control either because of too much correction or some other technical problem."
Investigation Priorities and Protocol Questions
The investigation will examine whether the pilots were under pressure to complete the landing despite challenging conditions. Standard procedure dictates that if the runway is not in sight by the time the aircraft descends to decision height, a go-around or diversion should be executed.
"That is another aspect that the investigation will surely look into," noted the commander. "Were the pilots under duress to make the landing?"
The Ministry of Civil Aviation statement made no mention of any mayday or distress call from the flight crew, suggesting the sequence of events unfolded too rapidly for radio communication. The CCTV recording has been verified as authentic and is expected to play a central role in determining the precise chain of events that led to this tragic accident.
