DGCA grounds four aircraft of VSR Ventures, a month after Ajit Pawar’s death in crash

Nearly a month after the death of then Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in a plane crash, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has grounded four aircraft operated by the same charter company that was flying him.

The regulator also announced a slew of measures for charter companies across the country, following “a recent surge” in incidents to ensure tighter oversight, after a high-level meeting on Tuesday with several charter operators.

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“The multi-disciplinary audit team observed several non-compliances of approved procedures in the organisation in the area of airworthiness, air safety and flight operations,” said a press statement issued by the DGCA about VSR Ventures Pvt Limited. As a result, four aircraft were being “immediately grounded” till the company meets the prescribed airworthiness standards. All aircraft grounded are either Learjet 40 or Learjet 45.

VSR Ventures has 17 aircraft registered under its name, according to the DGCA’s website.

Ajit Pawar and four others onboard a Learjet 45 died when it crashed in Baramati on January 28. Subsequently, the DGCA undertook a special audit of VSR, as well as a broader industry-wide audits. A preliminary probe report is expected within 30 days of the accident.

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Shortcomings in training

In a press statement, the DGCA said accident data from the past decade indicated that most incidents stemmed from non-adherence to standard operating procedures (SOPs), inadequate flight planning, and deficiencies in training.

In response, the regulator announced a series of corrective measures. These include the introduction of a safety ranking system for all charter operators — soon to be published on the DGCA website — enhanced random audits, and closer surveillance of ageing aircraft as well as those undergoing ownership changes. The DGCA has also directed charter companies to disclose details such as the age of their aircraft, maintenance records, and pilots’ experience on their websites, enabling customers to make more informed booking decisions.