Pilot Union on Ajit Pawar Plane Crash: Landing Not Feasible at 3,000-Meter Visibility

New Delhi: The tragic plane crash that claimed the lives of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and four others has drawn critical attention from the pilot community. The Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) has stated that landing a plane on the Baramati airstrip in Pune at a visibility of 3,000 meters would have been unsafe. According to the union, a minimum visibility of 5,000 meters is required for a safe landing on such an uncontrolled airstrip.

Landing Risks at Uncontrolled Airstrips

FIP President Captain C.S. Randhawa explained that uncontrolled or unlicensed airstrips often lack essential safety systems, including the Instrument Landing System (ILS), which is considered a minimum standard for commercial operations. In the case of the Baramati crash, low visibility combined with glare from the rising sun may have prevented the pilot from spotting the runway in time, leading to the fatal accident.

Concerns Over DGCA and ATC Oversight

Aviation experts have raised concerns over the regulatory permissions granted by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and Airports Authority of India (AAI). They suggest that passenger or VIP flights should not have been permitted to operate at such airstrips without minimum safety measures. The incident has prompted calls for an investigation into the roles of DGCA and Air Traffic Control (ATC) in authorizing operations under substandard visibility conditions.

Casualties

The crash has left the state and the nation in shock. Five people, including Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, lost their lives when the plane attempted to land at Baramati. Eyewitnesses in the area reported seeing the tragic incident unfold. The Deputy Chief Minister’s sudden demise has left his family and supporters devastated.