DGCA Orders Special Audit of VSR Ventures After Ajit Pawar Plane Crash
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has ordered a special audit of VSR Ventures, the private jet operator that flew Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, following the deadly Learjet 45XR crash in Baramati. Pawar and four others on board—including the pilot, co-pilot, personal security officer, and flight attendant—were killed when the aircraft crashed during a second landing attempt amid poor visibility.
The audit, expected by February 15, will examine VSR Ventures’ maintenance protocols, logbooks, and safety checks. Separately, the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) continues to probe the circumstances of the crash.
VSR Ventures has faced scrutiny from international regulators. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) revoked the company’s Third Country Operator (TCO) authorisation after it failed to respond to queries regarding a Learjet 45 accident in Mumbai on September 14, 2023. The earlier crash occurred during heavy rain and poor visibility, though no fatalities were reported.
Based in New Delhi, VSR Ventures specialises in private jet charters, medical evacuations, and aviation consultancy. The Learjet 45XR involved in the crash, VT-SSK, was a 1990s “super-light” business jet comparable to the Cessna Citation Excel.
The DGCA audit aims to determine whether VSR Ventures complied with maintenance protocols and safety regulations, as authorities investigate both domestic and international compliance issues surrounding the company.
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