DGCA Grounds 4 VSR Ventures Aircraft After Safety Audit Flags Lapses Following Ajit Pawar Plane Crash

India's aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), has ordered the grounding of four aircraft operated by VSR Ventures after a special safety audit found several procedural and maintenance lapses.

The action comes weeks after a fatal plane crash near Baramati that killed Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and four others.

The regulator said the decision was taken to ensure passenger safety and restore proper airworthiness standards.

Safety Audit Ordered After Fatal Crash

The DGCA had launched a detailed safety audit of VSR Ventures following the crash of a Learjet 45 aircraft on January 28 near Baramati airport in Maharashtra.

The accident resulted in the deaths of Ajit Pawar, two pilots, a security officer and a flight attendant.

During the audit, a multi-disciplinary team examined the company's operations, maintenance systems and safety procedures. Officials said the team detected several violations of approved procedures related to aircraft maintenance and safety.

According to the DGCA, these gaps raised serious concerns about the organisation's compliance with aviation safety standards.

Four Aircraft Grounded Until Issues Fixed

Based on the findings, the aviation watchdog ordered the immediate grounding of four aircraft operated by VSR Ventures. These include Learjet 40 and 45 models with registrations VT-VRA, VT-VRS, VT-VRV and VT-TRI.

The regulator stated that the aircraft will remain grounded until all safety and maintenance standards are restored and verified. The move is part of corrective measures aimed at ensuring continued airworthiness and preventing further risks.

Company Asked to Submit Detailed Report

The DGCA has issued deficiency reporting forms to VSR Ventures and asked the company to provide a detailed root cause analysis of the lapses found during the audit.
Officials said the submissions will be reviewed carefully before any further decision is taken regarding the airline's operations.

Only after the regulator is satisfied with the corrective steps and safety compliance will the aircraft be allowed to resume service.

Investigation Into Crash Still Ongoing

Meanwhile, the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is continuing its probe into the Baramati crash. A preliminary report is expected to be released soon.

Some groups have raised questions and concerns about the cause of the accident, with a few even suggesting the possibility of foul play. However, officials said the investigation is still underway and no final conclusion has been reached.

What Happened in the Baramati Crash

On January 28, Ajit Pawar was travelling from Mumbai to Pune district to attend multiple political rallies when the aircraft crashed near Baramati airport.
The plane had initially attempted to land but had to perform a "go-around" due to poor visibility. A go-around is a normal safety procedure where pilots abort a landing and try again when conditions are not suitable.

After receiving final clearance to land, the aircraft reportedly did not respond to air traffic control instructions. Moments later, it crashed near the runway and caught fire.
The crash killed all five people on board, including two experienced pilots and other crew members.

Focus on Aviation Safety

The DGCA's latest action highlights the importance of strict compliance with safety and maintenance procedures in aviation. Authorities said grounding the aircraft is a precautionary step to ensure that any shortcomings are addressed before operations resume.

As the investigation continues, aviation regulators and safety experts are closely monitoring developments to determine the exact cause of the tragedy and prevent similar incidents in the future.