Aircraft in Ajit Pawar Crash May Have Missed Safety System Deadline by 28 Days

Preliminary reports indicate that the chartered Learjet carrying Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, which crashed on Wednesday, may not have been equipped with India’s satellite-based navigation safety system due to a narrowly missed regulatory deadline.

The 16-year-old aircraft was registered on June 2, 2021—just 28 days before a new mandate came into effect requiring all newly registered planes in India to be fitted with advanced satellite-based approach systems such as GAGAN (GPS Aided Geo Augmented Navigation).

Crash Details
The aircraft crashed about 100 meters from the edge of the tabletop runway at Baramati airport in Pune district during a second landing attempt in poor visibility. The accident claimed the lives of Ajit Pawar and four others. The plane burst into flames upon impact.

Navigation Systems: ILS vs. GAGAN
At major airports, pilots rely on the Instrument Landing System (ILS), a ground-based technology that guides aircraft during low-visibility conditions. However, smaller airports like Baramati often lack ILS due to high costs and technical requirements.

To address this, India developed GAGAN, a satellite-based system that provides similar precision guidance during approach and landing. However, the aircraft must be outfitted with compatible avionics to use GAGAN—equipment the Learjet likely did not have, as it was registered just weeks before the mandate took effect.

The Challenge of Landing Without Advanced Guidance
Without ILS or GAGAN capability, pilots at uncontrolled airports like Baramati rely on traditional “step-down” approaches. This requires descending in stages and visually locating the runway—a method that becomes significantly riskier in poor weather.

Sequence of Events
According to the Civil Aviation Ministry, the aircraft contacted Baramati air traffic control at 8:18 am. The crew was informed of calm winds and visibility of around 3,000 meters. On final approach, the pilots reported they could not see the runway and initiated a go-around. Moments later, they again reported poor visibility before finally stating “runway in sight” and being cleared to land at 8:43 am.

One minute later, at 8:44 am, flames were spotted near the runway threshold. The wreckage was found on the left side of the runway.

Aftermath and Response
The death of Ajit Pawar, a prominent leader of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), has sent shockwaves through Maharashtra’s political landscape. His uncle and party founder Sharad Pawar urged that the incident not be politicized, calling it a tragic accident.

The investigation is ongoing, with attention focused on the aircraft’s equipment, weather conditions, and operational decisions during the final approach.