Trainer aircraft crashes near Baramati airstrip in Maharashtra, 7 months after accident that killed Ajit Pawar

A trainer aircraft operated by the Academy of Carver Aviation, a DGCA-approved flying training organisation, was involved in a runway excursion near the Baramati airfield in Maharashtra's Pune district on Sunday, PTI reported.

The Cessna C172-type aircraft, bearing registration VT-SEX, was being operated for a Circuit and Landing Emergencies (CL Emergencies) training exercise when the incident occurred at around 12.25 pm.

The aircraft was under the command of flight instructor Capt. Chirag Shashikant Doifode, with trainee Abhijeet Jundre on board.

According to the DGCA, the aircraft had taxied out at around 12.09 pm for the scheduled training exercise. During the exercise, it entered the runway through Link Bravo and lined up at the threshold of Runway 29, where a rejected take-off exercise was conducted.

The aircraft subsequently lined up at the threshold of Runway 11, where another rejected take-off exercise was carried out.

During the exercise, the aircraft was unable to stop within the paved runway surface and veered off the extended paved surface beyond the threshold of Runway 29 towards the right side, resulting in a runway excursion.

No injuries or fatalities were reported in the incident.

Damage to aircraft

The aircraft has, prima facie, sustained damage to its propeller, engine cowling and nose landing gear, according to the DGCA. A detailed assessment of the damage will be carried out by the competent authorities.

The DGCA Air Safety team is proceeding to the site to conduct a preliminary investigation and determine the circumstances and contributing factors leading to the incident.

Ajit Pawar's aircraft crashed at same airstrip

The incident comes seven months after the then Maharashtra deputy chief minister and NCP chief Ajit Pawar was killed in a crash during a landing attempt at the same airstrip.

On January 28, Ajit Pawar along with four other occupants of Learjet 45 aircraft crashed in what was the second attempt at landing at the airstrip. That private charter plane belonged to another company, VSR Ventures.

Apart from Pawar, the deceased included his security officer and an attendant, plus two crew members (pilot-in-command Sumit Kapur and first officer Shambhavi Pathak).

Third incident at the spot

The crash on Sunday was the third incident at the airstrip this year. A trainer aircraft of another private company had crashed near the Baramati airstrip on May 13 too. According to an HT report, a trainee pilot escaped safely after the incident occurred at around 8.50 am near Gojubavi village adjacent to the Baramati airstrip.

The aircraft belonged to Redbird Flight Training Academy.