Questions over the ownership and operations of Baramati Airport have come into sharp focus following the fatal aircraft crash that killed Ajit Pawar and five others on Wednesday morning.
The Learjet 45 aircraft, registered VT-SSK, crashed while attempting to land at the Baramati airstrip in Pune district, Maharashtra. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) confirmed that there were no survivors.
Who owns Baramati Airport?
Baramati Airport is owned by the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC), a state government undertaking. While ownership rests with MIDC, the airportâs operations are handled by a private entity, but the facility has recently come under the oversight of the Maharashtra Airport Development Company (MADC), following a state government review of privately operated regional airports.
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Baramati Airport is a general aviation facility, not a commercial passenger airport. It does not have an IATA code and operates as an uncontrolled aerodrome under visual flight rules (VFR).
The airport has a single asphalt runway (11/29) measuring approximately 1,770 metres in length. It is at an elevation level of around 1,978 feet above mean sea level which is a factor that can affect aircraft performance during take-off and landing, particularly for business jets.
How the airport is typically used
Baramati Airport primarily serves pilot training academies and non-scheduled aviation. It is home to DGCA-approved flying training organisations, including Carver Aviation, which conducts commercial and private pilot licence programmes.
There are no scheduled passenger flights from the airport. Operations mainly include training sorties, private charter movements, and occasional business jet landings, making it a feeder facility for larger hubs such as Pune and Mumbai.
What happened on Wednesday
According to the DGCA, the Learjet 45 carrying Ajit Pawar, two security personnel and two crew members veered off the runway while landing and burst into flames.
Baramati airport manager Shivaji Taware told Hindustan Times that the aircraft âwent off the side of the runway while attempting to land and exploded after the crash.â The jet had been chartered from Mumbai, officials said.
A technical investigation has been initiated by aviation authorities to determine whether runway conditions, aircraft performance, weather, or operational constraints played a role in the accident.
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Renewed scrutiny on regional airports
The crash has renewed scrutiny on the safety readiness and infrastructure standards of smaller, privately operated regional airports. While Baramati Airport has long functioned as a training and general aviation hub, officials said the absence of night-landing facilities and advanced navigation systems will now come under closer examination.
The DGCA and state authorities are expected to review operational protocols at the airport as part of the ongoing investigation.
