The Ministry of Civil Aviation on Thursday announced that they have located and retrieved the black box from the Learjet aircraft that crashed on Wednesday morning, killing Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Ajit Pawar. The black box will provide investigators with more data on what happened during the flight and will include both the flight data recorder and the cockpit voice recorder.
The aircraft, a Bombardier Learjet 45, crashed during its approach to the Baramati airstrip in Pune while carrying Ajit Pawar and four other passengers. Upon impact, it immediately caught fire and was gutted, making visual identification of the passengers' remains impossible.
Ministry assures transparent probe
The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) stated that they are committed to completing the investigation as quickly as is possible in accordance with current standard operating procedures and guidelines.
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In a post on X on Thursday, the Ministry stated, "A team of three officers from AAIB, Delhi, and another team of three officers from the DGCA, Mumbai Regional Office, reached the crash site on 28 January. The Director General, AAIB, also arrived at the site the same day. The investigation is progressing expeditiously, and the black box of the ill-fated aircraft has been recovered."
The Ministry further added that they are ensuring a thorough and transparent probe into the incident. "Following the unfortunate aircraft accident near Baramati, all requisite response and investigative mechanisms were activated immediately. Ensuring a thorough, transparent, and time-bound inquiry remains a top priority," it stated.
"The investigation has been initiated in accordance with Rules 5 and 11 of the AAIB Rules, 2025," it was asserted.
Following the unfortunate aircraft accident near Baramati, all requisite response and investigative mechanisms were activated immediately. Ensuring a thorough, transparent, and time-bound inquiry remains a top priority.
— MoCA_GoI (@MoCA_GoI) January 29, 2026
A team of three officers from AAIB, Delhi, and another team…
Pune rural police registers case
Meanwhile, according to a Times of India report, the Pune rural police have also registered an Accidental Death Report (ADR) at Baramati Taluka Police Station and further investigation into the accident has been initiated.
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"An ADR has been registered at Baramati Taluka Police Station in connection with the air crash in which Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar lost his life. Further investigation has been initiated," a Pune police official was quoted as saying by the news agency.
NDRF team reaches crash site
According to news agency IANS, an NDFR team rom Pune reached the crash site on Thursday. Mahashtra DGP Sadanand Date was also present. The team inspected in the presence of police officials and wreckage was re-examined.
