Taking a strict step, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has banned the flights of four Learjet aircraft of VSR Ventures with immediate effect. This action has been taken after the plane crash that took place on January 28 last month, in which 5 people including Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar lost their lives. Safety investigation has found that there were many serious flaws in the operation of these aircraft, due to which this decision has been taken.
Which planes were grounded by DGCA and why?
Aviation regulator DGCA, issuing orders on 24 February 2026, has grounded four aircraft of VSR Ventures. The registration numbers of these aircraft are VT-VRA, VT-VRS, VT-VRV and VT-TRI. When a special safety audit of these aircraft was conducted after the accident, many violations of airworthiness and flight operations were found.
Investigation has also revealed that the European Agency (EASA) had already suspended the license of this company because they had not answered the questions related to an old accident in Mumbai. Now the Indian regulator has also taken action under the Aircraft Rules.
What new revelations have come in the investigation of the accident?
The investigation into this plane crash in Baramati has taken many complicated turns. The ‘Cockpit Voice Recorder’ (CVR) of the aircraft (VT-SSK) which was the victim of the accident has been badly damaged due to the extreme heat. Now the help of American company Honeywell is being taken to recover its data. However, the data from the Digital Flight Data Recorder (DFDR) has been safely extracted.
On the other hand, Ajit Pawar’s family, especially his nephew Rohit Pawar, have expressed suspicion of ‘conspiracy’ in this accident. After this, the investigating agency is now looking at this matter from the criminal angle also. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) may submit its initial report by February 28.
What steps are being taken for the safety of passengers in future?
After this incident DGCA looks very strict. Apart from VSR Ventures, the department has also started investigation of 14 other non-scheduled operators, which will continue till February 25. Its purpose is to ensure that private charter planes have complete security arrangements.
For the convenience and safety of the common people, DGCA is also going to introduce a ‘Safety Ranking System’ soon. With this, any person will be able to see the safety rating of that company before booking a charter plane and understand how safe that operator is.
