DGCA to audit 15 private airlines after Ajit Pawar plane crash

Following the recent plane crash in Baramati that reportedly claimed the life of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and NCP leader Ajit Pawar, the directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has started action against 15 private airlines over possible safety lapses.

In the first phase, which began on Monday, the audit will cover 14 operators, including charter companies and corporate operators.

The audit will be carried out by three-member teams comprising one official each from the air safety, airworthiness, and flight operations sections for non-scheduled operators.

An audit of VSR Aviation, whose Learjet 45 crashed in Baramati, is also underway. The special audit of VSR Aviation is being carried out by a six-member team, which has been advised to submit its report by the February 15.

The accident that triggered it all took place in Baramati on January 28, 2026, at Baramati Airport. A Learjet-45 XR aircraft (VT-SSK), manufactured by Canadian company Bombardier, crashed while landing. Five people, including Ajit Pawar, lost their lives in the tragic incident.

Soon after the crash, on February 2, the DGCA ordered an investigation. ​