New Delhi witnessed a shocking revelation from the Civil Aviation Ministry on Wednesday’s tragic Learjet 45 crash in Baramati, Maharashtra, which claimed the lives of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and four others. This wasn’t the aircraft’s first brush with disaster. Back in September 2023, the same plane was involved in a landing mishap at Mumbai’s airport.
Operated by VSR Ventures Private Limited, the jet’s troubling history came to light as ministry officials confirmed the details. The plane, part of a fleet that includes multiple Learjet 45s, had a prior incident on September 14, 2023, registered as VT-DBL. During heavy rains and poor visibility, it encountered landing troubles at Mumbai, carrying six passengers who miraculously escaped unharmed.
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is still probing that earlier event, underscoring ongoing safety concerns. VSR Ventures, a non-scheduled operator, boasts a fleet of 17 aircraft: seven Learjet 45s, five Embraer 135BJs, four King Air B200s, and one Pilatus PC-12. Their Air Operator Permit, first issued in 2014, was renewed in April 2023 and remains valid until 2028.
A February 2025 regulatory audit by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) found no Level-1 safety lapses. The flight crew was highly experienced; the pilot-in-command held an Airline Transport Pilot License with over 15,000 flying hours. His last medical check was in November 2025, and proficiency test in August 2025. The co-pilot had a Commercial Pilot License with 1,500 hours, last proficiency in July 2025.
Ajit Pawar was en route from Mumbai to Baramati for local body election-related public events. AAIB Director GV G Yugandhar is personally overseeing the probe, with teams securing the site to retrieve the flight data recorder. This incident raises serious questions about aviation safety protocols for private operators, demanding a thorough review as investigations unfold.