The Ministry of Civil Aviation has set up a three‑member investigation team to look into the Baramati plane crash that claimed the life of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and four others, officials said.
The move comes as authorities work to uncover the causes behind the tragic accident that occurred on January 28 near the Baramati airfield.
The team, which includes members from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), reached the crash site immediately after the incident. Its mandate is to conduct a thorough and transparent inquiry into all aspects of the crash.
In addition to forming the panel, investigators have successfully recovered the aircraft’s black box, which includes the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder, officials confirmed. These crucial components will be analysed to reconstruct the final moments of the aircraft to help determine contributing factors.
Preliminary reports indicate that the aircraft, a Learjet 45 operated by a private charter company, attempted to land at Baramati airport but may have encountered poor visibility conditions before crashing. Authorities stress that the full investigation will identify the exact sequence of events and any operational or environmental factors involved.
Earlier, Ajit Pawar was cremated with full State honours today.