Ajit Pawar Crash: Learjet May Have Missed Mandatory Satellite Landing System by Narrow Regulatory Gap

The fatal crash of a chartered Learjet carrying Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar has brought renewed focus on aviation safety norms, particularly the timing of regulatory requirements for advanced navigation systems in India. Preliminary assessments indicate that the aircraft may not have been equipped with India’s satellite-based approach guidance system due to a registration deadline missed by a matter of weeks.

The 16-year-old business jet, which went down near Baramati airport in Pune district on Wednesday morning, was registered in India on June 2, 2021. A regulatory mandate requiring newly registered aircraft to carry satellite-based navigation and approach equipment came into force 28 days later. Because the aircraft entered the Indian registry before the cut-off date, it was not legally required to have the system installed.

Aviation specialists say this timing detail, while compliant with existing rules, may have had operational implications during the aircraft’s final moments, particularly given the challenging weather and limited infrastructure at the destination airport.

Crash Near Tabletop Runway

Ajit Pawar, 66, and four others were killed when the aircraft crashed during a landing attempt at Baramati, a regional airstrip with a tabletop runway configuration. Officials have stated that the aircraft caught fire after impact during what appeared to be a second attempt to land amid reduced visibility.

The incident has sent shockwaves through Maharashtra’s political landscape and prompted expressions of grief across party lines. Family members and senior leaders have urged restraint, stating that the incident should be treated as an accident and not drawn into political debate.

Navigation Systems and Regional Airports

Most major airports in India are equipped with the Instrument Landing System (ILS), a ground-based technology that provides pilots with precise vertical and lateral guidance during landing, particularly in poor weather conditions. However, installing and maintaining ILS infrastructure is costly and technically complex, making it less common at smaller regional airports.

To address this gap, India developed GAGAN (GPS Aided Geo Augmented Navigation), a satellite-based augmentation system designed to provide accurate approach guidance even at airports lacking ILS. GAGAN relies on satellite signals rather than ground installations, but aircraft must be fitted with compatible avionics to use the system.

Aviation experts note that without such equipment on board, pilots cannot access satellite-assisted guidance, regardless of whether the system is operational in the region.

Registration Timing Under Scrutiny

According to publicly available records, the Learjet involved in the crash was operated by a private aviation firm and had been in service for over a decade before being registered domestically in 2021. The regulatory requirement mandating satellite-based navigation systems applied only to aircraft registered after the stipulated date.

As a result, the aircraft was considered compliant under the rules in force at the time. However, safety analysts suggest that the absence of satellite-based approach capability may have increased the complexity of the landing under marginal visibility conditions.

Landing Challenges at Uncontrolled Airfields

Baramati airport is classified as an uncontrolled airfield, meaning it does not have continuous air traffic control services. Instead, flight movements are coordinated through standard procedures and advisories, often with assistance from personnel at local flying training organisations.

In such settings, and without ILS or satellite-based approaches, pilots typically rely on conventional step-down descent techniques. This method requires aircraft to descend in stages, with pilots needing to visually confirm runway alignment at specific points.

While this approach is routine in clear weather, it becomes significantly more demanding in fog, haze, or low cloud cover. Safety professionals often compare it to navigating a poorly lit staircase, where each step requires precise judgment and timely visual cues.

Sequence of Final Moments

Information released by the Civil Aviation Ministry indicates that the aircraft established contact with Baramati authorities at around 8:18 am, after being cleared from Pune approach control approximately 30 nautical miles away. The crew was advised on local conditions, including calm winds and visibility estimated at around 3,000 metres.

During the initial approach, the pilots reported that the runway was not visible and initiated a go-around, a standard safety manoeuvre used when landing conditions are unsuitable. Shortly afterward, the crew again communicated difficulty in acquiring visual contact with the runway.

Moments later, the pilots reported that the runway was in sight and were cleared to land at approximately 8:43 am. About a minute after the final transmission, personnel near the airstrip observed flames close to the runway threshold. The wreckage was later located on the left side of the runway area.

Investigation Continues

Authorities have recovered key flight data components and have begun a detailed technical investigation to determine the precise sequence of events and contributing factors. Officials have indicated that weather conditions, aircraft equipment, airport infrastructure, and operational decisions will all be examined as part of the inquiry.

While the registration timing and equipment status have drawn attention, experts caution against premature conclusions, emphasizing that aviation incidents are rarely the result of a single factor.

As investigations proceed, the incident has reignited discussions on whether older aircraft operating in challenging regional environments should be retrofitted with modern navigation systems, even when not explicitly required by regulation.