DGCA Grounds VSR Ventures’ Learjet Fleet After Special Safety Audit Following Fatal Baramati Crash That Killed Ajit Pawar
In a major crackdown on aviation safety, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has ordered the immediate grounding of multiple aircraft belonging to M/s VSR Ventures Pvt Ltd. This decisive action follows a special safety audit triggered by the tragic plane crash in Baramati on January 28, 2026, which claimed the life of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar.
The audit, conducted by a multi-disciplinary team, uncovered a series of alarming “non-compliances” regarding approved operating procedures. According to a press note issued by the DGCA on February 24, the investigation revealed significant lapses in airworthiness, air safety, and flight operations management within the organization.
Fleet Grounded Until Further Notice
The regulator has grounded four specific Learjet 40/45 aircraft, with registrations VT-VRA, VT-VRS, VT-VRV, and VT-TRI, effective immediately. These aircraft will remain out of service until the company can demonstrate that continued airworthiness standards have been fully restored.
“Deficiency reporting forms have been issued to M/s VSR Ventures Pvt Ltd,” the DGCA stated, requiring the firm to submit a thorough root cause analysis of the observed non-compliances.
Background: The Baramati Tragedy
The enforcement action stems from the accident involving a LearJet 45 (VT-SSK) last month. The aircraft crashed near the Baramati airstrip, resulting in the death of senior NCP leader Ajit Pawar and four others on board. The incident sent shockwaves through the state’s political landscape, leading to a high-level investigation by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) and the DGCA.
Union Civil Aviation Minister K Ram Mohan Naidu had previously asserted a “zero tolerance” policy for air safety violations. The recovery of the “Black Box” (Flight Data Recorder) from the Baramati site has been instrumental in the ongoing probe, which has now expanded to scrutinize the entire maintenance culture of the operator.
For VSR Ventures, the grounding of their fleet represents a severe blow to their operations as they face intense scrutiny over how these “gaps in maintenance procedures” were allowed to persist.
