The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has confirmed that both black boxes the critical flight recorders from the Learjet 45 that crashed near Baramati Airport and killed former Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and four others were damaged by fire, complicating efforts to reconstruct the final moments before the accident. The Learjet 45XR aircraft, registered VT SSK, crashed on 28 January 2026 while attempting a second approach in poor visibility and fog. All five people on board, including Ajit Pawar, his security officer and the flight crew, lost their lives in the fiery accident.
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Why Black Box Data Matters
Black boxes technically known as the Digital Flight Data Recorder (DFDR) and the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) are vital for understanding aviation accidents. The DFDR captures parameters such as airspeed, altitude and control inputs, while the CVR records cockpit conversations and radio transmissions, offering crucial context around decision making in the cockpit.
According to the AAIB, both recorders were exposed to intense heat for a prolonged period during the accident. While the DFDR data has already been successfully downloaded at the bureau’s Flight Recorder Laboratory, the CVR suffered fire damage that has so far prevented automatic data extraction. Investigators have therefore sought specialised technical support from the aircraft’s manufacturer and other accredited experts to attempt recovery of the cockpit voice data.
Technical Challenges and International Assistance
Fire damage to CVRs is a relatively rare but serious challenge. These devices are engineered to withstand extreme impacts and high temperatures, but prolonged exposure to fire can degrade internal components and complicate data retrieval. As a result, the AAIB has reached out for help from the accredited technical representatives of the recorder manufacturers, and may even seek support from overseas facilities with advanced extraction tools.
Officials have emphasised that retrieving the CVR data if successful would provide invaluable insights into the crew’s actions, communications with air traffic control and other factors in the final moments before the crash.
Political and Public Reaction
The circumstances of the crash continue to draw scrutiny and calls for a more comprehensive investigation. Members of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) have urged the state and central governments to commission an independent inquiry by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), citing inconsistencies and unanswered questions around the accident. NCP leaders including Deputy CM Sunetra Pawar and party representatives met with Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to push for the central probe, arguing that thorough forensic and procedural review by a national agency is necessary for public confidence in the investigation.
There have also been political criticisms and questions raised about how the crash was handled and what preliminary findings may suggest about safety oversight, making this one of the most sensitive aviation investigations in recent Indian history.
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What Happens Next
The AAIB has reiterated its commitment to following all technical and procedural standards set out under India’s Aircraft (Investigation of Accidents and Incidents) Rules, 2017 and the international guidelines of the ICAO Annex 13 framework. Authorities stress that recovering as much data as possible especially from the damaged CVR remains a priority to help determine the accident’s root causes.
Once full data analysis is complete, the findings will be shared with relevant stakeholders and, where appropriate, the public, forming the basis for recommendations aimed at enhancing aviation safety. Analysts and aviation experts are watching closely for any definitive conclusions that the black box analysis might reveal.
