Three Years Before Ajit Pawar’s Fatal Crash, Another Aircraft Operated by VSR Ventures Crashed in Mumbai

AAIB Final Report on 2023 Mumbai Plane Crash Raises Questions Over Safety Practices at Ajit Pawar’s Aircraft Operator

Mumbai, October 17, 2026: A final investigation report into a Learjet crash at Mumbai airport in September 2023 has brought aviation safety practices at VSR Ventures, the operator linked to the aircraft involved in Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar’s fatal plane crash, under renewed scrutiny.

The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has released its final report on the September 14, 2023, accident, in which a Learjet 45XR crashed while attempting to land at Mumbai airport. The report identified an unstable approach in poor weather and inappropriate aircraft handling as the probable causes of the accident. <Cite refs={["turn298402search5","turn298402view0"]}/>

What Happened in the 2023 Mumbai Crash?

The aircraft, registered as VT-DBL, was operating a non-scheduled passenger flight from Visakhapatnam to Mumbai. It was cleared to land on runway 27, but heavy rain and deteriorating visibility affected the approach.

According to the AAIB's findings, the flight crew continued an unstable approach under marginal weather conditions. The aircraft was handled inappropriately, resulting in an aerodynamic stall at low altitude from which it could not recover.

The aircraft crashed during landing, leaving all eight people on board — two crew members and six passengers — seriously injured. <Cite refs={["turn298402search5","turn298402view0"]}/>

Safety Lapses Identified in the Report

The investigation also identified shortcomings at VSR Ventures involving pilot training, record-keeping and internal audits. The AAIB recommended that the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) conduct a one-time review of training records for fixed-wing pilots, particularly those employed by non-scheduled and general aviation operators, to verify compliance with mandatory simulator-training requirements. <Cite refs={["turn298402search5"]}/>

The findings have renewed attention on the oversight of private charter operators and the importance of following established flight-safety procedures, particularly during difficult weather conditions.

What Is the Connection to Ajit Pawar’s Plane Crash?

The connection between the two incidents is that both aircraft were operated by VSR Ventures.

Ajit Pawar died on January 28, 2026, when an aircraft crashed near Baramati airport while approaching to land. Four other people also died in that accident. The AAIB has been investigating the Baramati crash separately. <Cite refs={["turn298402view0","turn298402search3"]}/>

The findings from the 2023 Mumbai accident may prompt further questions about the operator's safety systems and regulatory oversight. However, the fact that both aircraft were operated by the same company does not, by itself, establish that the two crashes had the same cause or that the earlier accident caused or directly contributed to the later tragedy.

The 2023 report's findings concern that specific accident. Any conclusions about the causes of the Baramati crash must be based on the evidence and findings of its own investigation.

Aviation Safety Under Scrutiny

The release of the final report highlights the importance of stable landing approaches, appropriate pilot decision-making, recurrent training and effective regulatory audits.

As attention turns to the Baramati investigation, the key questions remain whether the available evidence points to operational, technical or other contributing factors and what measures may be needed to prevent similar accidents.