Asserting that the government has zero tolerance for air safety issues, Union Civil Aviation Minister K. Ram Mohan Naidu on Thursday (January 29, 2026) said the investigation into the plane crash that killed Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and four others would follow a time-bound approach.
From Homi Bhabha to Ajit Pawar: Notable figures who died in air accidents
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of Wings India 2026, he said the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) and the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) had arrived at the site, and the Black Box of the ill-fated aircraft had been recovered.
Pawar and four others on board a chartered aircraft were killed after it crashed barely 200 metres from the edge of a tabletop runway at Baramati airport in Pune district on Wednesday (January 28, 2026).
“The Black Box has been recovered, and the investigation is in process. This time, we will follow a strict timeline approach to ensure the report is completed expeditiously,” Mr. Naidu said.
