Baramati Plane Crash Probe To Follow Strict Timeline, Says Civil Aviation Minister

Union Civil Aviation Minister K. Ram Mohan Naidu has said on Thursday that the investigation into the Baramati plane crash, which claimed the lives of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and four others, will be carried out on a strict, time-bound basis.

Speaking to the media on the sidelines of Wings India 2026 in Hyderabad, the Minister stressed that the government has zero tolerance when it comes to aviation safety and assured that the probe would be completed without unnecessary delay.

Mr Naidu confirmed that teams from the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) and the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) reached the crash site soon after the incident.

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He added that the Black Box of the aircraft has been recovered, which will play a crucial role in determining the exact cause of the crash.

“This time, we are following a clear timeline-based approach so that the investigation report is completed as quickly as possible,” the Minister said.

The chartered aircraft crashed on January 28, just 200 metres from the tabletop runway at the Baramati airstrip in Pune district, killing everyone on board.

Addressing concerns over the absence of firefighting personnel at the site, Mr Naidu clarified that the Baramati airstrip is not a commercial airport.

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He explained that it is primarily used by Flying Training Organisations (FTOs) and operates under a Non-Scheduled Operator’s Permit (NSOP).

“All facilities required for flying training operations were in place. This airstrip is not licensed for regular commercial flights,” he said, adding that different safety requirements apply when an airstrip is upgraded for commercial use.

The Minister also highlighted that India follows some of the strongest aviation safety protocols globally. He said systems such as Flight Time Limitations (FTL) are already being strictly implemented to ensure pilot safety and operational discipline.

He further revealed that the Maharashtra government has formally written to the Centre regarding the crash, and the Civil Aviation Ministry has confirmed that the investigation is progressing.

(With inputs from The Hindu)