AAIB recovers Black box from Baramati crash, Flight data expected to shed light on accident

The Black Box from the Learjet 45 aircraft that crashed near the Baramati airstrip on Wednesday, killing Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and four others , has been successfully recovered, the Ministry of Civil Aviation confirmed on Thursday.

The device, which consists of the Flight Data Recorder (FDR) and Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR), will be examined at the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) laboratory in India. Officials added that if required, specialized technical assistance from an accredited foreign laboratory may be sought to decode the data.

“The investigation is progressing expeditiously, and the Black Box of the ill-fated aircraft has been recovered,” the ministry said, emphasizing the government’s commitment to a transparent and time-bound inquiry .

The Learjet 45, operated by Delhi-based VSR Ventures Pvt Ltd, crashed during its second landing attempt at the Baramati table-top runway. All five occupants on board Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, his personal security officer, an attendant, and two pilots lost their lives.

Teams from the AAIB headquarters in Delhi and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) Mumbai Regional Office reached the crash site on January 28 to begin on-site examination, debris mapping, and evidence collection. The Director General of the AAIB also visited the location to oversee the investigation.

The Black Box is a critical tool in aviation accident investigations. The FDR records technical flight information, including altitude, airspeed, engine performance, and control inputs, while the CVR captures cockpit conversations and communications with air traffic control.

By analyzing this data, investigators can reconstruct the final moments of the flight and determine whether the crash was caused by technical malfunction, operational error, human factors, or environmental conditions. Authorities expect the Black Box to provide key insights that could reveal the precise reason for the accident.

The AAIB, mandated to investigate all serious aircraft accidents involving turbojet aircraft or those weighing more than 2,250 kg , is leading the inquiry. Preliminary findings from the Black Box analysis, combined with wreckage examination, will form the basis of the final investigation report.

Officials stressed that the Black Box will be instrumental in identifying the cause of the crash and helping prevent similar incidents in the future.