Investigators have recovered the black box from the Learjet aircraft that crashed in Baramati, Maharashtra, killing Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and four others, marking a key step in determining what caused the fatal accident.
The Flight Data Recorder and Cockpit Voice Recorder were located a day after the crash and will now be analysed by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB). Officials said a specialised forensic team has already visited the site and begun a detailed, time-bound probe.
The Learjet 45, operated by Delhi-based VSR Ventures, went down around 8:45 am on Wednesday while attempting a second approach to Baramati airport. Ajit Pawar, 66, was travelling from Mumbai to his hometown to campaign for local body elections and was scheduled to address four rallies. Also killed were his personal security officer, an attendant, and the two pilots captain Sumit Kapur and first officer Shambhavi Pathak.
According to the Civil Aviation Ministry, the aircraft had established contact with Baramati airport at 8:18 am. The crew was informed about weather conditions and visibility of around 3,000 metres and was advised to land at their discretion. During the first attempt, the pilots reported that the runway was not in sight and initiated a standard “go-around”.
After re-establishing final approach, the crew confirmed that the runway was visible and was cleared to land at 8:43 am. However, officials said there was no readback of the landing clearance, a critical communication step. Moments later, air traffic personnel saw flames near the runway threshold.
A senior DGCA official also revealed that the last words heard from the cockpit were reportedly “oh s***”, suggesting a sudden emergency in the final moments.
The black box data is expected to shed light on whether weather, communication lapses, technical failure, or other factors led to the crash. Political leaders across parties have expressed shock and condolences, while the nation awaits answers from the ongoing investigation.
