Ajit Pawar Air Crash: Son Jay Calls for Probe Into ‘Lapses,’ Questions Black Box Damage
Family seeks ban on operating firm as calls grow for impartial investigation into Baramati crash
Pune, February 19, 2026: Jay Pawar, younger son of the late Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, has called for a comprehensive and impartial investigation into the air crash that claimed his father’s life, asserting that an aircraft’s black box cannot be easily destroyed.
In a social media post, Jay Pawar said the people of Maharashtra “have the right to know the transparent and complete truth” behind the January 28 crash near the Baramati airstrip, which killed Ajit Pawar and four others. He also demanded action against VSR Ventures Private Limited, the aviation company operating the ill-fated Learjet 45XR, seeking a ban on the firm pending investigation into alleged lapses and irregularities.
His remarks came a day after Deputy CM Sunetra Pawar and leaders of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) met Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, urging a CBI probe into the incident.
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has stated that specialised assistance has been sought to retrieve data from the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) of the crashed aircraft.
NCP leader Praful Patel suggested the operating company may bear primary responsibility, while also indicating that possible pilot negligence would be examined. Separately, NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar raised concerns about potential sabotage and questioned the track record of pilot Capt Sumit Kapoor, citing his previous suspension over alcohol related issues.
As investigations continue, multiple political leaders have pressed for a detailed multi-agency inquiry to determine accountability in the Ajit Pawar air crash.
