According to the regulator, a multi-disciplinary audit team found several non-compliances in areas including airworthiness, air safety and flight operations. The DGCA said there were serious gaps in maintenance procedures
Ajit Pawar (66) and four others were killed after the aircraft crash-landed at Baramati airport around 8.50 am. File Pic/Special Arrangement
Weeks after Baramati plane crash that killed former Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Tuesday, ordered immediate grounding of four aircraft operated by VSR Ventures after finding multiple compliance lapses.
The action follows after fatal plane crash near Baramati on January 28 involving a Learjet 45 owned by the company. NCP chief Ajit Pawar and four others were killed in the incident.
After the crash of the Learjet 45 (VT-SSK), the DGCA conducted a special safety audit of VSR Ventures.
According to the regulator, a multi-disciplinary audit team found several non-compliances in areas including airworthiness, air safety and flight operations. The DGCA said there were serious gaps in maintenance procedures.
An official statement by DGCA on Tuesday said that as a corrective measure, the regulator grounded Learjet 40/45 aircraft bearing registrations VT-VRA, VT-VRS, VT-VRV and VT-TRI until continued airworthiness standards are restored.
The aviation regulator has also asked the company to submit a root cause analysis report. Further action will be decided after reviewing the submission.
Rohit Pawar reacts
NCP (SP) leader Rohit Pawar wrote on X that he had repeatedly raised concerns about VSR Ventures allegedly not following compliance norms.
He said the grounding of four aircraft showed that the issue was serious, but added that it was “only the tip of the iceberg” and more details would emerge soon.
"We have been repeatedly raising the issue that VSR company is not following any compliances and is operating aircraft in an extremely arbitrary and unsafe manner. Today, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has grounded four of VSR’s aircraft on the very same issue of non-compliance. Although our struggle is beginning to see success, this is only the tip of the iceberg. There is still much more yet to come to light. I will speak in detail on this matter tomorrow morning," Rohit Pawar wrote on X.
Crash killed Ajit Pawar and four others
The Learjet 45 crash near Baramati killed Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and four others.
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is probing the incident and is expected to release a preliminary report before February 28.
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