Ajit Pawar Crash Operator VSR Under Scanner as AAIB Flags Lapses in 2023 Mumbai Learjet Crash

The company that operated the aircraft in which Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar died earlier this year is under renewed scrutiny after the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau published its final report on an earlier accident involving the same operator. The report on the September 2023 Learjet crash at Mumbai airport points to a series of procedural, training and record-keeping lapses at VSR Ventures, reviving questions about aviation safety oversight in India's private charter sector.

The 2023 Mumbai Accident

On September 14, 2023, a Learjet 45XR operated by VSR Ventures crashed while landing at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in heavy rain and poor visibility. The aircraft had taken off from Visakhapatnam with eight people on board, including six passengers, a cabin attendant and two pilots. The jet suffered a runway excursion, its fuselage broke into two parts and the aircraft was destroyed, but all eight occupants survived with serious injuries. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau published its final investigation report on Friday, October 16, 2026, after a delay of about three years.

What the Report Found

The bureau concluded that a probable cause of the accident was the pilot's decision to continue landing an unstabilised aircraft in inclement weather. It also highlighted a cascade of human errors, procedural lapses and self-imposed time pressure linked to an operational deadline during the monsoon, which contributed to a failed go-around before the crash. These findings suggest that safety margins were eroded by the desire to complete the flight on schedule.

Record-Keeping and Training Gaps

The investigators went beyond the cockpit decisions and examined the operator's systems. Their scrutiny of VSR Ventures' logbooks revealed incomplete documentation, missing stamps from certifying staff and unrecorded maintenance details. The report also pointed to discrepancies in training procedures, including that recurrent training for some Learjet pilots did not fully cover critical emergency procedures during the required annual cycle, including simulator exercises. Shortcomings were also noted in internal audits. The bureau recommended tighter oversight by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation and mandatory simulator checks.

The Baramati Crash

The findings carry added weight because of what happened on January 28, 2026. A Learjet 45 operated by the same company crashed while attempting to land at Baramati in Pune district, killing Ajit Pawar, who was 66, and four others, including pilots. Pawar was travelling from Mumbai to attend political meetings in his family's stronghold. The earlier accident involved the same make of aircraft and the same landing phase, which is why the two events are now being discussed together. Reports on the preliminary findings of the Baramati investigation have referred to an attempt to land in visibility below the prescribed limit and to issues related to runway maintenance and safety procedures, though the final report is awaited.

Questions for Regulators

Aviation experts say the two crashes within three years raise the question of whether regulators acted quickly enough on warning signs at a single operator. The long gap between the 2023 accident and the publication of its final report has also drawn attention, since lessons from investigations are meant to prevent repeat incidents. The DGCA is expected to face pressure to audit charter operators more strictly, check pilot training records and enforce simulator requirements.

What Comes Next

The final report on the Baramati crash will be crucial in establishing whether similar factors played a role. Until then, the findings from Mumbai provide an indication of the kind of systemic issues investigators are looking for. For the families of those who died and for passengers who rely on private charters, the key question is whether the reforms recommended this time will actually be implemented.

This report is based on published news coverage of the investigation findings. The Baramati investigation is ongoing and no final conclusion has been announced.