How the Baramati Plane Crash Investigation is Unfolding After Black Box Recovery

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The tragic Baramati plane crash on 28 January 2026, which claimed the life of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and four others, has sent shockwaves through the nation’s political and aviation sectors. The Learjet 45, registered as VT-SSK and operated by VSR Ventures, crashed during a second landing attempt at Baramati Airport amidst challenging visibility.

It shows that there are safety concerns for private planes flying to smaller airports in India. People are now worried about how safe these VIP flights really are.

Inside the Final Moments of VT-SSK

The plane left Mumbai at 8:11 AM, and it was taking Ajit Pawar to a political rally. The weather seemed fine at first. However, the pilots could not see the runway clearly when they arrived. They tried to land once but failed. They flew around to try again at 8:44 AM, but unfortunately, during this second try, something went wrong.

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The plane suddenly turned and crashed near the start of the runway. It exploded immediately upon hitting the ground. Investigators are now looking at the "Black Box" from the plane. They want to know if the engines failed or if the pilot got confused by the clouds. This investigation will help prevent similar accidents in the future.

Why did the Baramati Plane Crash lack GAGAN safety tech?

It is reported that this plane was missing a key piece of safety tech called GAGAN, a special satellite system that helps planes land safely at small airports. Small airports often do not have expensive ground equipment to guide pilots. GAGAN acts like a high-tech map in the sky to show the pilot exactly where the runway is.

The plane, VT-SSK, did not have this system on account of a timing rule. It was registered in India just before a new law made the system mandatory. As it was a few weeks early, the owners did not have to install it. This was a legal choice, but it left the pilots with less help during the foggy landing. In the next few months, the government will likely ensure all private jets install this tech. While this measure can be expensive, it will save lives.

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