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AAIB Probe Initiated Into Ajit Pawar's Fatal Plane Crash, Minister Assures Time-Bound Inquiry

Civil Aviation Minister Rammohan Naidu Kinjarapu has informed Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis that the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has formally begun investigating the fatal plane crash that killed Deputy CM Ajit Pawar and four others. The minister stated the black box has been recovered and the probe will be transparent and time-bound, with all technical and operational details being examined. The Civil Aviation Ministry acknowledged the state's request for preventive measures, which will be implemented once the investigation report is received. The tragic crash occurred as Pawar was traveling from Mumbai to Baramati for election campaigning.

Key Points: AAIB Probe Into Ajit Pawar Plane Crash: Minister Assures Time-Bound Inquiry

  • AAIB initiates formal crash investigation
  • Black box recovered, probe underway
  • Minister assures transparent, time-bound inquiry
  • State government's cooperation sought
  • Preventive measures to be implemented post-report
3 min read

AAIB probe initiated, investigation will be done in time-bound manner: Civil Aviation Minister tells Maharashtra CM Fadnavis

Civil Aviation Minister informs Maharashtra CM that AAIB has begun a formal, transparent investigation into the crash that killed Deputy CM Ajit Pawar and four others.

"the probe would be conducted transparently and in a time-bound manner - Civil Aviation Minister Rammohan Naidu Kinjarapu"

Mumbai, January 29

Civil Aviation Minister Rammohan Naidu Kinjarapu has informed Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday that the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau has initiated a formal investigation into the recent aircraft accident that claimed the lives of Deputy CM Ajit Pawar and four others.

Replying to a letter written by Chief Minister Fadnavis, the Union Minister said the aircraft's black box has been recovered, and the investigation has commenced in accordance with the Aircraft Accident and Incident Rules.

He assured that the probe would be conducted transparently and in a time-bound manner.

"All technical records, operational details, and facts from the accident site are being examined," the letter stated.

The letter further stated that the Civil Aviation Ministry acknowledged the Chief Minister's request to take preventive measures to avoid such incidents in the future, and that appropriate measures would be implemented once the investigation report is received.

"Cooperation from the Maharashtra government will be valuable for this inquiry, and assistance from the local administration will be required. The complete investigation report will also be shared with the state government," the letter further read.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had written to the Civil Aviation Minister following the tragic accident, highlighting the gravity of the incident in which a very senior political leader like Ajit Pawar lost his life along with four others.

In his letter, the Chief Minister requested a detailed inquiry into the accident's exact causes and urged immediate steps to prevent similar incidents.

Ajit Pawar, 66, died on Wednesday morning after the aircraft carrying him crashed while attempting to land at Baramati airport in Pune district. The plane crash-landed near the runway threshold, killing all five people on board the chartered plane. Among the deceased were his personal security officer, a flight attendant and two pilots.

The crash occurred around 8.48 am. Pawar was on his way to Baramati from Mumbai to campaign for the Zilla Panchayat elections.

Meanwhile, the last rites of Ajit Pawar were held with full state honours at the Vidya Pratishthan ground in Baramati, where his sons lit the funeral pyre and performed the final rituals.

Several prominent leaders and dignitaries, including Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) chief Sharad Pawar, and actor Riteish Deshmukh, attended the funeral and paid their last respects.

A large number of people also gathered at the Vidya Pratishthan ground to bid a final farewell to the Nationalist Congress Party leader, reflecting the widespread public mourning over his demise.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

S
Sarah B
Recovering the black box quickly is a good first step. The focus must be on the technical and operational causes. Was it pilot error, mechanical failure, or weather? We must learn from this to prevent future tragedies. The cooperation between state and centre mentioned here is encouraging.
P
Priyanka N
Such a heartbreaking incident. He was campaigning for local elections, working till the end. The sight of his sons performing the last rites was very moving. The investigation must be thorough, but let's also remember the human loss—the PSO, flight attendant, and pilots who also lost their lives.
A
Aman W
"Time-bound manner" – I hope this doesn't mean a rushed job. These investigations need to be meticulous, not fast. Safety protocols for smaller airports and private aircraft need a serious review across India. Baramati is not a major airport; were there any known issues with the approach?
K
Karthik V
The political unity shown at the funeral, with leaders from all parties attending, is commendable in these divisive times. On the investigation, I'm glad the state govt's request for preventive measures has been acknowledged. Implementation is key. We've seen reports before that just gather dust.
M
Michael C
As someone in the aviation industry, the details matter. "Crash-landed near the runway threshold" often points to a missed approach or unstable landing. The AAIB is generally competent. Sharing the final report with the state government is a good practice for accountability. Let's wait for the facts.

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