Mumbai: Thirteen days after the death of Maharashtra deputy chief minister and Nationalist Congress Party (AP) chief Ajit Pawar in a plane crash in Baramati, his nephew Rohit Pawar has publicly raised serious allegations against the charter aircraft operator VSR Aviation, questioning the aircraft’s airworthiness, last-minute crew changes, the pilot’s conduct, and what he described as “a slow official investigation”.
In a detailed press conference at Mumbai’s Y. B. Chavan Centre, Rohit Pawar alleged that the crash may not have been an accident but the result of multiple lapses, saying, “Maybe not ghaat, but upghaat (not injury, but lapse),” suggesting systemic negligence rather than a freak mishap.
Ajit Pawar was flying in a Learjet aircraft operated by VSR Aviation when it crashed while attempting to land at Baramati airport on 28 January at 8.45 am. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has since initiated a probe, while the Press Information Bureau (PIB) has released preliminary findings.
Rohit Pawar claimed that the aircraft and crew assigned to the flight were changed at the last minute. According to him, emails detailing the original crew were altered shortly before departure, with pilot Sumit Kapoor and co-pilot Shambhavi Pathak being assigned at the last minute.
“The crew reached the airport at 7 am, but the pilot, Sumit Kapur, had arrived from Hong Kong on an international flight just hours earlier,” Rohit Pawar alleged. He further questioned whether Kapoor had time for adequate rest and raised concerns over possible intoxication, as alcohol is frequently served on international flights.
“Was any alcohol or breath test conducted before he took charge of the aircraft?” Pawar asked, alleging that no such checks seem to be carried out despite the pilot having just completed a long-haul flight.
Rohit Pawar further questioned Kapur’s experience on the Learjet aircraft, alleging that the pilot had limited hours as a captain on the Learjet model and had primarily served merely as a co-pilot on commercial operations.
He also referred to Kapur’s alleged track record, claiming that another political leader had a “bad experience” while flying with him to Nanded earlier. While no formal complaint in that matter has been made public, Pawar said, “The incident raises red flags that should have been considered by the operator.”
Runway choice and audio records
One of the main questions raised by Pawar pertains to the pilot’s decision to attempt landing on Runway 11, instead of Runway 29 at Baramati airport.
“Runway 29 is flat and considered safer for landing. Runway 11 is the infamous tabletop runway. If landing permission for 29 was asked earlier, why did the pilot suddenly ask for landing permission on runway 11, moments before?” he asked, stressing that, “the final decision lies with the pilot, while communication is handled by the co-pilot”.
Rohit Pawar also highlighted the cockpit voice recordings and push-to-talk (PTT) data, claiming they raise further doubts. According to the records cited by him, at 9.44.13 am, co-pilot Shambhavi Pathak was heard saying, “oh shit, oh shit”, a minute before the crash.
“The PTT system records all voices, when the button is pressed. While you can hear Pathak saying oh shit, oh shit, there is no voice from the pilot at that moment,” Pawar said, questioning whether Kapur was fully alert or capable of responding.
Additionally, he alleged that the aircraft’s transponder (device that automatically transmits a unique identification code and altitude data to air traffic control radar systems) was switched off in the final minute before impact, a move he said requires explanation. “Why was the transponder shut off just before the crash?” he asked.
Call for independent probe
Pawar pointed to discrepancies between the DGCA and PIB reports, claiming inconsistencies in the recorded timing of contact with air traffic control and the crash itself. He demanded clarity on which version was accurate and why conflicting information had been released.
He also questioned alleged delay by the forensic team and said, “There are serious concerns over why the forensic team reached the crash site so late,” adding that, “while the CID has been given the investigation, they don’t seem to be competent enough to investigate diligently and quickly.”
Calling for an independent and transparent investigation, Rohit Pawar said the family was not drawing conclusions but seeking answers. “These are not emotional questions. These are technical questions that deserve honest answers,” he said.
Speaking to ThePrint, the owner of VSR, Captain Vijay Kumar Singh said: “On 26th, Captain Sumit Kapur returned to Mumbai from Karnla in the evening, and on 27th, he did not fly at all. This means that there was no issue of flight duty time limitations. Both of them were properly rested.”
Speaking about the day of the crash, Singh said, “Before going on the flight, they had a breathalyser test, which has a video, everything is there.”
“It’s a very, very sad and unfortunate incident, an accident where we have lost precious lives,” Singh told ThePrint, further adding, “I feel very sad that this accident had to happen in our aircraft.”
The DGCA has maintained that the investigation is ongoing and that conclusions will be drawn only after a complete analysis of flight data, cockpit recordings and maintenance logs.
Rohit Pawar has called for “the immediate cancellation of all contracts and services awarded to VSR Aviation till the investigation is completed and all doubts are cleared,” adding that, “the family will write to authorities in Delhi seeking a wider probe, including the involvement of international aviation agencies if necessary.”
Rohit Pawar has demanded that the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder, commonly referred to as the “black box” be made public, alleging that the investigation has moved “very slowly” so far and suggesting that “some people do not appear interested in taking it forward”.
Pawar said even Ajit Pawar’s sons seemed to harbour similar doubts, which is why NCP (AP) leader Amol Mitkari had travelled to Delhi on behalf of their party.
“Everybody’s priorities are different. Our priority is to clear our doubts, something that Sunetra Kaki (aunty), Parth and Jay want as well,” he said, adding that he could not comment on the priorities of others in the party more concerned with the “consolidation of power”.
(Edited by Viny Mishra)