NewKerala.com

IAF Deploys Emergency ATC Team to Baramati After Fatal Plane Crash Kills Ajit Pawar

The Indian Air Force has urgently deployed an Air Traffic Control team to Baramati Airport following a fatal plane crash. The crash claimed the life of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and four others on board the charter flight. Investigation teams are now gathering critical documents from the aircraft operator and aviation authorities. The crash occurred as Pawar was traveling to campaign for local elections.

Key Points: IAF Sends ATC Team After Baramati Crash Kills Maharashtra Deputy CM

  • IAF deploys emergency ATC team
  • Crash killed Deputy CM Ajit Pawar
  • All five on board perished
  • AAIB probe gathers documents
  • Crash occurred during election campaign
3 min read

Maharashtra: Indian Air Force deploys emergency ATC team to Baramati after fatal plane crash

Indian Air Force deploys emergency air traffic control to Baramati airport following a fatal charter plane crash that killed Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar and four others.

"This rapid assistance underscores IAF's commitment to national service in times of need. - Indian Air Force"

Baramati, January 28

On an urgent request from the Maharashtra government, the Indian Air Force has swiftly deployed a team of Air Traffic Control personnel along with essential technical equipment from Air Force Station Lohegaon to Baramati Airport, the Defence officials said on Wednesday.

The team promptly established emergency Air Traffic Control services, including communication and other emergency facilities, in coordination with the local administration to support safe and efficient air traffic management, they added.

In an X post, the Indian Air Force stated that a dedicated team of Air Warriors has been deployed on the urgent request of the civic authorities after the Baramati plane crash. The team is providing basic Air Traffic Control and Meteorological services.

"In response to the civic authorities' urgent request after the tragic aircraft crash at Baramati Airport, the Indian Air Force has swiftly deployed a dedicated team of Air Warriors. They are providing essential basic Air Traffic Control (ATC) and Meteorological services to support safe air operations from the site. This rapid assistance underscores IAF's commitment to national service in times of need," the IAF wrote.

This development comes after Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar was killed in a crash landing of a charter plane in Baramati this morning.

As part of the investigation into the crash, Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) officials were present at the office of VSR Ventures Private Limited, which operates the ill-fated charter plane. The AAIB team was seen placing boxes of documents into vehicles.

Airframe and engine logbooks, work orders, on-board documents, and major inspection records related to aircraft will be gathered from the operator for scrutiny.

The probe team has also sought documents from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) related to the crew and the aircraft. Radar data recordings, CCTV footage, ATC recordings, and hotline communications will be obtained for further analysis.

Meanwhile, Pawar, 66, was killed 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, and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau have dispatched probe teams to the site of the mishap to investigate.

Pawar was on his way to Baramati to campaign for the Zilla Panchayat elections.

- ANI

Share this article:

Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Such a heartbreaking incident. A senior leader and four others gone in an instant. The investigation must be thorough and transparent. We need to know if this was a technical failure, human error, or something else. Safety cannot be compromised.
R
Rohit P
Good to see the IAF step in so quickly. But it raises a question: why did Baramati Airport not have adequate ATC facilities in the first place, especially when it's used by charter flights carrying VVIPs? This needs a serious review by the DGCA.
S
Sarah B
Watching from abroad, the coordination between state govt and IAF is impressive. Hope the investigation is swift and leads to concrete safety improvements for regional airports across India. Thoughts with everyone affected.
K
Karthik V
Om Shanti. A grim reminder of how fragile life is. The focus now should be on the families of the PSO, flight attendant, and pilots. They were just doing their jobs. The system must support them.
M
Michael C
The technical response is good, but the article mentions gathering logbooks and records. The operator, VSR Ventures, needs to be scrutinized heavily. Were all maintenance protocols followed? The DGCA must hold operators to the highest standard.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Leave a Comment

Minimum 50 characters 0/50