DGCA Grounds Four VSR Ventures Aircraft After Safety Audit Triggered by Baramati Learjet Crash
DGCA Grounds Four VSR Ventures Aircraft After Safety Audit Triggered by Baramati Learjet Crash
New Delhi | February 24, 2026: India’s aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), has ordered the immediate grounding of four aircraft operated by VSR Ventures after uncovering serious compliance lapses during a special safety audit. The action follows the fatal crash of the company’s Learjet 45 aircraft near Baramati on January 28.
The crash involved Learjet 45 aircraft VT-SSK, owned by VSR Ventures, and resulted in the death of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and four others. In the aftermath, the DGCA initiated a comprehensive safety inspection of the operator.
According to the regulator, the multi-disciplinary audit team identified multiple violations of approved procedures across key operational areas, including airworthiness, flight safety, and flight operations. Based on these findings, the DGCA ordered the grounding of four Learjet 40/45 aircraft registered as VT-VRA, VT-VRS, VT-VRV, and VT-TRI.
“In view of the non-compliances observed and the gaps in maintenance and operational procedures, it has been decided to ground these aircraft with immediate effect until continued airworthiness standards are fully restored,” the DGCA said in an official statement.
The aviation watchdog has also issued deficiency reporting forms to VSR Ventures, directing the company to submit a root cause analysis of the violations. The regulator will assess these submissions before deciding on further regulatory or enforcement action.
Crash Probe and AAIB Investigation
Meanwhile, the investigation into the Baramati crash is being led by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB). The agency has confirmed that the crashed aircraft was fitted with two independent flight recorders.
Both recorders were exposed to intense heat for a prolonged period during the accident and suffered significant fire damage. The Digital Flight Data Recorder (DFDR), manufactured by L3-Communications, has already been successfully downloaded at the AAIB’s Flight Recorder Laboratory.
However, the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR), manufactured by Honeywell, is still undergoing detailed technical examination. The AAIB has sought specialised technical support from the United States, the state of manufacture, to assist in retrieving data from the damaged CVR.
The agency has appealed for restraint and responsibility in public discourse, urging all stakeholders to avoid speculation. It stated that the investigation is being carried out strictly in line with the Aircraft (Investigation of Accidents and Incidents) Rules, 2017, and international standards prescribed under ICAO Annex 13.
Preliminary Report Awaited
Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu had earlier indicated that the preliminary investigation report into the Learjet 45 crash is expected to be released soon. Officials have said the findings will play a crucial role in determining accountability and future regulatory action.
With the grounding of four aircraft and ongoing technical investigations, the case has become one of the most serious aviation safety probes in recent times, raising broader concerns over non-scheduled aircraft operations, maintenance oversight, and regulatory compliance in India’s private aviation sector.
