The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) in its preliminary report on the Baramati plane crash has recommended that the aviation regulator DGCA may issue necessary directions to all operators flying VFR to uncontrolled airfields to strictly adhere to the laid-down standard operating procedures.
In its 22-page preliminary report on the VSR Venture's Learjet plane crash near Baramati in January that killed Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and four others, the aircraft accident probe agency AAIB also said that all aspects of the plane crash will be investigated to bring out facts, root causes and contributory factors.
"In view of the interim findings brought out so far, it is considered necessary to issue following interim safety recommendations so that necessary preventive actions can be taken promptly to enhance aviation safety.
"It is recommended that DGCA may issue necessary directions to all operators operating VFR flights to uncontrolled airfields to strictly adhere to the laid down standard operating procedures," the AAIB said.
Further, "necessary directions may also be issued to all the aerodrome operators/organisations responsible for handling the aerodrome services at the uncontrolled airfields to ensure that the flying operations (including Non-scheduled/Private/Charter operations) in the airfield are allowed only when the prevailing meteorological conditions are within the criteria laid down in the relevant DGCA regulations," the report said.
The aircraft, a Learjet, was cleared for landing at Baramati on the morning of January 28 after a go-around due to poor visibility, but after receiving the clearance, it did not give any read-back to the ATC, and moments later, it burst into flames on the edge of the runway.
"Later, the aircraft was heard transmitting "Oh S**t ... Oh S**t... " before it crash landed on the left side of the runway abeam runway 11 threshold," the report said.
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and four other persons on board a chartered aircraft were killed after it crashed barely 200 metres from the edge of a tabletop runway at Baramati airport.
The others killed in the tragedy were Captain Sumit Kapoor, who had a flying experience of 15,000 hours, co-pilot Capt. Shambhavi Pathak with 1,500 hours of flying, Personal Security Officer (PSO) Vidip Jadhav and flight attendant Pinky Mali.
Maharashtra minister and NCP leader Aditi Tatkare on Saturday demanded that all reports and findings related to the plane crash, in which Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar was killed, be compiled and made available on a common forum for public scrutiny.
Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) on Saturday issued a preliminary report plane crash, which occurred exactly a month ago, at Baramati in Pune district that claimed the lives of Pawar and four others. In its 22-page preliminary report, the probe agency said all aspects of the plane crash will be investigated to bring out facts, root causes and contributory factors.
"As multiple agencies are involved in the probe into the plane crash, it would be better if all those reports and findings are presented at one place or on one forum for people and the common man to understand," Tatkare told reporters, adding that legislators would meet Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to raise the issue.
The Women and Child Development Minister said the preliminary report submitted by the DGCA was only a primary assessment and sought clarity on the timeline for the detailed report.
"The DGCA officials should provide a timeline for when they will release the detailed report. We also want to know at what stage (of investigation) the CBI and other probe agencies are and what progress has been made. This is going to be our demand," she said.
Tatkare said she did not have access to the contents of the primary report and questioned how long people will have to wait for the final findings.
Describing the January 28 plane crash as a matter of grave public importance, she said Pawar was not an ordinary individual.
"This is not an accident of a common man. Pawar was a deputy CM six times and has been in public life for many years. It is understood that an accident involving such a person has to be investigated thoroughly and very carefully," she said.