Mumbai, Feb 14 (NationPress) NCP-SP legislator Rohit Pawar urged Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday to initiate a thorough, transparent, and independent inquiry into the Learjet-45 crash near Baramati that involved the late Ajit Pawar, former Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, which occurred on January 28.

In a comprehensive letter, Rohit Pawar pointed out several "disturbing inconsistencies" and safety oversights, indicating that the incident may not simply be an accident.

The letter emphasizes critical issues surrounding the final moments of the Bombardier Learjet-45 (VT-SSK) operated by VSR Ventures, including last-minute crew changes, pilot behavior, technical issues, and landing decisions.

According to Rohit Pawar, "Both of the original pilots were reportedly swapped at the last moment, allegedly due to 'traffic delays', which raises concerns about adherence to reporting standards and duty regulations. The pilot had a reputation as a 'habitual drinker' and had been cautioned by the owner to refrain from alcohol before flying. Issues also included an unexpected loss of transponder signal right before the crash and the absence of recorded EGPWS (Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System) alerts. Notably, this same operator was involved in a serious incident at Mumbai Airport in 2023," the NCP-SP legislator stated.

He further mentioned that the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) had revoked the operator's license in 2024 due to safety infractions, a fact he claims was communicated to Indian authorities but seemingly disregarded.

Rohit Pawar also pointed out that despite low visibility conditions, the pilot insisted on landing on Runway 11 (a tabletop runway) instead of the safer Runway 29, even after executing a go-around.

Rohit Pawar has called upon the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the Home Ministry to ground all VSR aircraft and Arrow Aircraft Sales, and to engage the Bureau of Enquiry and Analysis for Civil Aviation Safety (France) or the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (UK) to ensure a fair and impartial investigation. He also urged for the formation of a monitoring committee that would include family members of the late Ajit Pawar and state MPs/MLAs.

"Maharashtra has lost a significant leader, Ajit Pawar, who dedicated his life to public service. If serious operator lapses are not scrutinized with full accountability, the safety of other leaders and citizens is at stake," the NCP-SP legislator remarked.

Simultaneously, Rohit Pawar took to social media to amplify his plea.

In a post on X, he stated, "Numerous questions have arisen concerning the plane crash involving Ajit dada Pawar, and these uncertainties, along with the facts, were shared with the public during a press conference. I attempted to meet with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu, and the DGCA, but the meeting did not occur. Consequently, I emailed all our concerns to the Union Home Minister, Civil Aviation Minister, and DGCA, requesting a thorough and unbiased investigation into this crash to unveil the facts to the public. I am optimistic about receiving a favorable response, leading to an objective resolution of the many questions troubling not just me but the entire state of Maharashtra.

Rohit Pawar also remarked, "Despite the press conference, while the investigation has gained some traction, it still does not seem to be progressing as expected. The Union Home Minister and Civil Aviation Minister may have been preoccupied with the Parliament session, but the reason for the DGCA's delay remains unclear. Even if the authorities have not provided time, all relevant information has been sent to them; despite not being in power, we continue to follow up in our own capacity, and I hope the state government and all in power will pursue this matter as well!"