NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar criticized the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) for allegedly concealing facts in the probe of the plane crash that killed Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on January 28. This is the third time Pawar has spoken out about the incident, presenting video evidence and screenshots to support his claims of errors in the official report. He expressed concerns about the investigation’s integrity, suggesting a possible agenda to protect influential individuals and the aviation company, VSR.
Pawar highlighted technical discrepancies in the AAIB report, particularly regarding flight hours and fuel levels. Contrary to the report’s findings, he stated that the aircraft had surpassed its official engine life by more than 3,000 hours and carried an unusually high fuel capacity of 90-95%. Questioning the necessity of excessive fuel for a standard flight plan, he implied the possibility of intentional actions. Additionally, Pawar pointed out a discrepancy in the report’s description of the aircraft’s banking direction during the crash, citing a video that contradicted the official account.
Rohit Pawar also criticized the investigators for inaccuracies in basic details, such as incorrectly labeling Baramati and its municipal status. He raised suspicions of a pre-planned conspiracy, mentioning witness reports of unidentified individuals surveying the crash site before the incident. Pawar called for further investigations by the CBI and CID to explore potential criminal angles, expressing dissatisfaction with the current report’s credibility. He questioned the decision-making process that led to the flight in low visibility conditions and demanded legal action against ‘Aero’ company officials for allegedly providing misleading information on weather conditions. Pawar concluded by pointing out the absence of Black Box photos in the report, suggesting a deliberate manipulation of facts to mislead the public.
