DGCA grounds four VSR Ventures aircraft after safety audit finds violations following the fatal Baramati Learjet crash that killed Ajit Pawar.
Officials familiar with the matter said the safety audit was ordered on February 2 and carried out between February 4 and February 16. (File photo)
India’s aviation safety regulator has taken strict action against a private charter operator following a deadly aircraft accident in Maharashtra earlier this year. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has grounded four aircraft operated by VSR Ventures Pvt Ltd after a detailed safety audit uncovered multiple violations in maintenance and operational procedures.
The action follows the January 28 crash of a Learjet 45 at Baramati airport, an incident that claimed five lives, including senior NCP leader Ajit Pawar. The crash raised serious concerns about safety oversight among non-scheduled charter operators, prompting DGCA to order a special audit of the company.
Officials familiar with the matter said the safety audit was ordered on February 2 and carried out between February 4 and February 16. After analysing the findings, DGCA decided to immediately ground four Learjet 40/45 aircraft operated by the company.
“A multi-disciplinary team found several non-compliances in approved procedures related to airworthiness, flight operations, and safety,” an official said.
The aircraft grounded include those registered as VT-VRA, VT-VRS, VT-VRV, and VT-TRI. According to DGCA, these planes will remain grounded until the operator restores the continued airworthiness standards and addresses all identified lapses.
The audit team was led by senior DGCA officials and included experts from air safety, airworthiness, and flight operations. The inspection focused on whether the operator followed approved maintenance schedules, safety protocols, and operational procedures.
Investigators reportedly found gaps in maintenance practices and deviations from approved procedures. These issues raised red flags about whether the aircraft were being operated under safe and compliant conditions.
“The decision was taken in view of the non-compliances observed and considering the gaps in maintenance procedures,” another official explained.
DGCA has issued deficiency reporting forms to VSR Ventures Pvt Ltd, directing the operator to submit a detailed root cause analysis of the violations flagged during the audit.
“Deficiency reporting forms have been issued to VSR Ventures Pvt Ltd to submit root cause analysis on the non-compliances for further assessment by DGCA,” the official said.
Only after DGCA is satisfied with the corrective measures and compliance restoration will the grounded aircraft be allowed to return to service.
The audit was initiated after the company’s Learjet 45, registered as VT-SSK, crashed while attempting a second landing at the uncontrolled Baramati airport. The aircraft went down during the approach, killing all five people on board.
Records show that the jet had been actively flying charter routes across multiple cities, including Mumbai, Delhi, Goa, Pune, Surat, and Nagpur, in the weeks leading up to the crash.
The action against VSR Ventures comes amid increased scrutiny of charter and non-scheduled operators in India. DGCA is currently conducting phase-wise safety audits of all such operators, with a renewed focus on maintenance standards and regulatory compliance.
Aviation experts say the move sends a strong message that safety lapses will not be tolerated, especially in the wake of multiple fatal incidents involving private and chartered aircraft.
