Poor Visibility and Dilapidated Runway Caused Baramati Plane Crash

The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) released its preliminary report on Saturday regarding the tragic plane crash in Baramati, Maharashtra, which claimed the lives of Deputy CM Ajit Pawar and three others on January 28. The investigation concluded that low visibility and the poor condition of the runway were the primary causes of the accident.

According to the report, the visibility at the time was only 3,000 meters, significantly below the required safety standard of 5,000 meters. Furthermore, the AAIB noted that the runway had not undergone re-carpeting since 2016. This neglect led to faded markings and loose gravel, which likely disoriented the pilot during the landing attempt. Interestingly, the report mentioned that the aircraft had undergone a technical inspection after its previous flight to Mumbai, where technicians found no mechanical abnormalities. The findings suggest that infrastructural lapses at the Baramati airstrip, combined with adverse weather conditions, led to the fatal crash.