‘This Is An Accident’: Ramdas Athawale Rules Out Rohit Pawar’s 'Conspiracy' Claims In Ajit Pawar Plane Crash, But Seeks Probe Into Aircraft Clearance

Mumbai: Union Minister Ramdas Athawale on Tuesday, February 10, rejected the 'conspiracy' claims made by National Congress Party (Sharadchand Pawar) NCP-SP leader Rohit Pawar over Ajit Dada's aircraft crash in Baramati. Though the Union Minister demanded an investigation into the case, he ruled out any foul play as claimed by Rohit Pawar.

While speaking to the media, he demanded an investigation, saying that serious questions had emerged regarding the aircraft involved in the incident. Referring to claims that the company operating the plane was under a ban, he asked how the aircraft was permitted to function. “If there was a ban on the company, how did the aircraft operate? How did it receive clearance to take off from the airport? These issues must be investigated,” he stated.

He further added that any officials found responsible for lapses should face strict action. However, in the end, he also added that there was no foul play and said that, "This is an accident."

Ajit Pawar died in a plane crash on January 28 in Baramati. According to DGCA, five people, including the crew, on board the chartered plane flying from Mumbai to Baramati, died in the crash.

Rohit Pawar's Explosive Statements Over Ajit Pawar's Death

MLA Rohit Pawar alleged that there was reason to suspect sabotage in the tragic air crash that killed his uncle and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar last month, and demanded a comprehensive probe by multiple expert agencies.

He alleged that the VSR Company, which owned the Learjet aircraft carrying the late leader, wielded influence over DGCA officials and could "get away with anything." "The final probe report of the 2023 crash involving a VSR company aircraft has already been submitted. Even now, VSR company planes continue to be used by high-ranking political leaders," Rohit Pawar said, questioning why the company's licence to operate was never scrapped.

During the press conferences, the NCP-SP leader Rohit Pawar raised multiple questions about what he described as unusual changes and discrepancies surrounding the incident.

He questioned why Ajit Pawar’s scheduled road journey on January 27 was abruptly cancelled despite a convoy being arranged, and why the decision was taken to travel by aircraft the next morning instead. In another question, he also pointed to the change in the flight’s departure time, which was earlier scheduled at 7:00 am but departed later.

Further, he also raised concerns over the last-minute replacement of pilots, questioning whether proper procedures and mandatory pre-flight checks were followed before assigning the new crew. Moreover, he also questioned the track record of Capt Sumit Kapoor, citing his suspension for three years for alcohol consumption in the past. Rohit Pawar questioned, "Despite Sumit Kapoor’s poor track record, how was he called upon to operate a flight for a VVIP figure like Ajit Dada?"

The NCP-SP leader also questioned the decision to attempt landing in reportedly low visibility conditions and the insistence on landing on Runway 11 despite earlier references to Runway 29. Referring to cockpit audio details, he said that the co-pilot’s Shambhavi Pathak's final words were recorded moments before the crash, the main pilot reportedly remained silent in the last few minutes, which he found 'unusual.'

In the end, Pawar also said that the CID would not have full authority to probe the incident and demanded a comprehensive investigation by multiple expert agencies, including the National Transportation Safety Board, the Bureau of Enquiry and Analysis for Civil Aviation Safety, the UK-based Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB), along with Indian agencies.

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