Final Seconds Before Impact: Inside the Baramati Learjet Tragedy

New Delhi: The final moments aboard the Learjet 45 that went down at Maharashtra’s Baramati airstrip were marked by shock and disbelief. Voice recordings indicate that the two cockpit crew uttered a stunned “oh s***” just seconds before the aircraft met its fatal end, a crash that claimed five lives on Wednesday morning.

The victims included 66-year-old Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, his personal security officer, an attendant, and the two pilots, captain Sumit Kapur and first officer Shambhavi Pathak. The aircraft, operated by Delhi-based VSR Ventures Pvt Ltd, was attempting its second landing at the tabletop airstrip when disaster struck around 8:45 am.

According to officials, air traffic coordination at Baramati is handled by pilot cadets from two private flying institutes in the town, Redbird Aviation and Carver Aviation, who served as the ground contact for the incoming jet that morning.

By evening, a specialised team from the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) arrived at the site to begin a meticulous forensic examination, aiming to reconstruct the chain of events that culminated in the crash.

How the Morning Unravelled

A statement from the Civil Aviation Ministry laid out a minute-by-minute account, highlighting a potentially critical lapse: the flight crew did not provide a readback after being cleared to land.

At 8:18 am, the Learjet, registered as VT-SSK, first made radio contact with Baramati airport. Captain Kapur, a veteran aviator with more than 15,000 flight hours, and co-pilot Pathak, who had logged around 1,500 hours, were briefed about prevailing weather conditions and told that landing could be attempted at their discretion.

The crew sought further clarity on wind patterns and visibility. Air traffic control informed them that visibility stood at approximately 3,000 metres, generally sufficient for a landing attempt under standard conditions.

Shortly thereafter, the aircraft announced its final approach to Runway 11. Moments later, the pilot reported that the runway was “not in sight.” Following established aviation protocol, controllers instructed the crew to execute a go-around, a manoeuvre used when a landing cannot be safely completed.

After circling back, the pilots again reported being on final approach. This time, they confirmed visual contact with the runway. At 8:43 am, clearance to land was issued. However, investigators noted a conspicuous absence: there was no verbal readback from the cockpit confirming receipt of that clearance.

Just a minute later, at 8:44 am, air traffic controllers observed flames erupting near the threshold of Runway 11. The aircraft had crashed before completing its landing, leaving behind wreckage, unanswered questions, and a nation in mourning.

As investigators pore over flight data, cockpit recordings, and ground communications, the tragedy underscores how a sequence of small deviations can converge into irreversible catastrophe.