Training aircraft crashes near Baramati airport in Pune; pilot safe

A training aircraft crashed near Pune's Baramati airport on Wednesday morning. The trainee pilot, who was the sole occupant, survived without serious injuries after the aircraft developed a technical snag and made a crash landing.

A training aircraft crashed near the Baramati airport in Pune district on Wednesday, according to Pune Rural Police.

According to Sandeep Singh Gill, Pune Rural Police SP, the incident took place at around 8:50 AM.

"As per preliminary information provided by eyewitnesses present at the scene, the aircraft developed a technical snag while flying at a low altitude. During the crash landing, a part of the aircraft hit a light pole before the aircraft crashed onto the ground," Gill said in a statement.

He further said that only one trainee pilot was on board the aircraft at the time of the incident, and fortunately, no serious injuries were reported.

"Upon receiving information about the incident, police personnel immediately rushed to the spot, and necessary inquiry and further action are underway," the statement added.

Further details are awaited.

Recalls Previous Fatal Crash Involving Ajit Pawar

The incident comes just months after a deadly Learjet 45 crash in January this year, in which all five persons on board, including Ajit Pawar, were killed after the aircraft went down near the runway while attempting to land.

Ajit Pawar died on the morning of January 28 when the Learjet 45 aircraft (VT-SSK) carrying him crash-landed, killing all five people on board. Among the deceased were Pawar, his personal security officer, a flight attendant, and two pilots. He was travelling from Mumbai to Baramati to campaign for the Zilla Panchayat elections.

Investigation Reveals Major Safety Lapses

The DGCA constituted a multi-disciplinary audit team that observed several non-compliances of approved procedures in the organisation in the area of airworthiness, air safety, and flight operations and ordered a special safety audit of M/s VSR Ventures Pvt Ltd.

The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB)'s report also highlighted that there is no meteorological facility available at Baramati Airfield, and the weather information is usually passed on to the aircraft with the help of a weather instrument installed in the temporary tower.

The inspection of the aerodrome at the Baramati Airfield revealed that the airport is an uncontrolled airfield and does not have any navigational aids other than wind socks. The two wind socks are available towards the runway 29 side, while no wind sock was available towards the runway 11 side, where the aeroplane carrying Ajit Pawar attempted to land.

Highlighting other discrepancies with the aerodrome, the report said that only Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations can be carried out; however, regular flying training operations and Non-scheduled operations are carried out at the airport. (ANI)

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Asianet Newsable English staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)