Ajit Pawar’s aircraft crash issue : AAIB claims the black box of crashed aircraft was burnt; wife Sunetra demands a CBI probe

Mumbai : A demand has been made for a CBI investigation into the aircraft accident involving former Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar. The demand was raised during a meeting with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, led by Ajit Pawar’s wife and Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar.

Earlier, the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) had stated that the crashed aircraft was equipped with two independent flight recorders, but both were damaged in the fire. Despite this, the investigating agency is attempting to gather technical evidence.

NCP demands CBI probe

A day earlier, along with Sunetra Pawar, Praful Patel (NCP National Working President and MP), Sunil Tatkare (State President and MP), Minister Hasan Mushrif, and Ajit Pawar’s elder son Parth Pawar met Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to demand a CBI inquiry into the incident.

After the meeting, Tatkare said that CM Fadnavis assured them that the state government would write to Union Home Minister Amit Shah and take the necessary steps to initiate a CBI investigation.

Earlier, the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) gave an important update on January 28 regarding the investigation into the Learjet 45 VT-SSK crash in Baramati. The AAIB stated that the crashed aircraft was equipped with two independent flight recorders. After the accident, both recorders were exposed to prolonged extreme heat and fire, causing damage.

Despite this, the investigating agency is engaged in the process of safely retrieving technical evidence. According to the statement, the data from the Digital Flight Data Recorder (DFDR) has been successfully downloaded, while examination of the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) is still ongoing. Special technical assistance is also being taken to ensure a more effective data recovery process.

The AAIB said that the entire investigation is being conducted in a fair, transparent, and evidence-based manner. All prescribed standards and protocols are being strictly followed, and further information will be shared at an appropriate time.