NCP leader Ajit Pawar died in a plane crash in January. Both flight recorders of the Learjet 45 that crashed in Baramati on January 28 were severely damaged by intense heat, prompting Indian investigators to seek specialised foreign assistance to retrieve cockpit audio data, the Ministry of Civil Aviation said. Ajit Pawar, Captain Sumit Kapoor, co-pilot Captain Shambhavi Pathak, Personal Security Officer (PSO) Vidip Jadhav, and flight attendant Pinky Mali were killed when the Learjet aircraft they were on board crashed near the Baramati airport in Pune district on January 28 this year. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is leading a detailed probe into the crash of the aircraft, registration VT-SSK, in accordance with the Aircraft (Investigation of Accidents and Incidents) Rules, 2017, and international standards under ICAO Annex 13, the ministry said. The aircraft was equipped with two independent flight recorders - a Digital Flight Data Recorder (DFDR) and a Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR). Both devices were exposed to prolonged heat and sustained fire damage during the accident, the Ministry said. Officials said the DFDR, manufactured by L3-Communications, has been successfully downloaded at the AAIB’s Flight Recorder Laboratory despite the damage. However, the CVR, manufactured by Honeywell, is undergoing detailed technical examination. Authorities have sought assistance from the accredited representative of the State of Manufacture to provide specialised support in decoding and retrieving audio data from the fire-affected recorder. The bureau said it is adhering to all prescribed technical and procedural protocols to ensure the investigation remains comprehensive, objective and evidence-based. It also urged stakeholders to avoid speculation and allow the investigation to proceed in line with established procedures. Earlier, following the plane crash, the Ministry of Civil Aviation had said that Baramati has an ‘uncontrolled airfield’ (one without a dedicated Air Traffic Control), and traffic information is provided by instructors/pilots from the local flying training organisations. Union Civil Aviation Minister K Ram Mohan Naidu had said the investigation into the plane crash would follow a time-bound approach. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) and the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) had visited the site, and the Black Box of the ill-fated aircraft were recovered. Meanwhile, NCP (SP) MLA and late Ajit Pawar's nephew, Rohit Pawar, has raised several questions regarding the sequence of events leading up to the plane crash. He alleged that there was a reason to suspect sabotage in the tragic incident and demanded a comprehensive probe by multiple expert agencies. For the Latest news, India News and breaking stories from around the world, visit Times Now for live coverage and in-depth reporting. Shafali Nigam is a Senior Correspondent with the Times Group, covering civil aviation, education, women and child affairs, and politics. With over sev... View More