DGCA Grounds Four VSR Ventures Aircraft After Safety Audit Triggered by Baramati Learjet Crash

New Delhi, Feb 2026 : India’s civil aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), has ordered the immediate grounding of four aircraft operated by VSR Ventures Pvt Ltd after a special safety audit revealed multiple violations of approved procedures. The action follows the fatal crash of a Learjet 45 at Baramati in Maharashtra on January 28, an accident that claimed the life of the state’s Deputy Chief Minister, Ajit Pawar.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the DGCA said the audit was commissioned in the aftermath of the accident involving Learjet 45 aircraft VT-SSK. A multidisciplinary team examined the company’s operations and identified “several non-compliances” across key safety domains, including airworthiness, air safety, and flight operations. The findings pointed to deviations from approved procedures and gaps in maintenance practices that, according to the regulator, warranted immediate corrective action.

“As a precautionary measure and considering the deficiencies observed during the audit, the DGCA has decided to ground the Learjet 40/45 aircraft with registrations VT-VRA, VT-VRS, VT-VRV, and VT-TRI until continued airworthiness standards are restored,” the statement said. The grounding will remain in effect until the operator demonstrates compliance and rectifies the shortcomings identified during the audit.

To facilitate corrective steps, the DGCA has issued deficiency reporting forms to VSR Ventures across the areas flagged during the inspection. The operator has been asked to submit a detailed root cause analysis for each non-compliance, which will then be assessed by the regulator before any decision is taken on restoring the aircraft to service. Officials indicated that the emphasis is on ensuring sustained adherence to safety and maintenance norms rather than a one-time fix.

Meanwhile, the investigation into the Baramati crash continues. Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol said the preliminary report into the accident will be released on or before February 28, in line with international timelines. Speaking to reporters at an event in Pune, Mohol said the government was committed to transparency and that the report would be published within a month of the accident, as mandated.

The crash has also sparked political controversy. Rohit Pawar, nephew of Ajit Pawar and an MLA from the NCP (Sharad Pawar faction), has publicly accused the private operator of violating safety norms. Through a series of press conferences, he alleged irregularities linked to the firm’s operations and pointed to what he described as technical anomalies surrounding the aircraft. Rohit Pawar has also raised questions about the possibility of foul play, adding to the scrutiny facing the operator.

Under norms laid down by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), a preliminary report on an aircraft accident investigation must be issued within 30 days of the occurrence. The Civil Aviation Ministry reiterated that the final report will follow after a comprehensive examination of all evidence. Officials stressed that the investigation process is methodical and evidence-driven, with no conclusions drawn until all technical aspects are assessed.

The probe is being conducted by the Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), which said its inquiry is technical in nature and involves a systematic examination of the wreckage, operational records, maintenance documentation, and laboratory testing of components where required. According to the ministry, the aircraft was fitted with two independent flight recorders, both of which are central to reconstructing the sequence of events leading up to the crash.

The Digital Flight Data Recorder (DFDR), manufactured by L3 Communications, has been successfully downloaded at the AAIB’s facility in New Delhi. The Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR), however, sustained thermal damage in the crash. As the CVR was manufactured by Honeywell, technical assistance has been sought from the State of Design and Manufacture, in accordance with ICAO procedures, to attempt data recovery.

The DGCA also highlighted its broader oversight activities to underscore that regulatory surveillance is ongoing across the sector. During 2025, the regulator conducted 51 audits of non-scheduled operators and carried out multiple surveillance checks on VSR Ventures, covering flight safety systems, flight duty time limitations, maintenance compliance under CAR M and CAR 145, documentation, and station facilities. According to the statement, findings from those earlier surveillances had been addressed and closed at the time.

However, in the wake of the fatal accident, the Civil Aviation Ministry directed the DGCA to undertake a comprehensive special audit of VSR Ventures. This review went beyond routine checks and examined operational control systems, maintenance practices, crew training standards, safety management systems, and monitoring of CVR and FDR data. The regulator said the decision to ground the aircraft reflects the seriousness with which it views the audit findings and its commitment to passenger and crew safety.

As authorities await the preliminary investigation report, the grounding order and intensified scrutiny mark a decisive regulatory response to one of the most serious aviation incidents in recent years, underscoring the DGCA’s stated resolve to enforce safety standards without compromise.

(The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the Mavericknews30 team.)