New Delhi, 17 February. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has issued an important update regarding the investigation into the Learjet 45 VT-SSK crash that occurred in Baramati on January 28. According to the Bureau, the investigation is being conducted strictly under the Aircraft Accidents and Incidents Investigation Rules, 2017 and International Civil Aviation Organization standards, particularly ICAO Annex 13.
AAIB said that the aircraft was fitted with two independent flight recorders. During the accident both recorders were exposed to extreme heat for extended periods of time, resulting in fire damage. Despite this, the investigating agency is engaged in the process of safely obtaining technical evidence.
Data from Digital Flight Data Recorder (DFDR) manufactured by L3-Communications has been successfully downloaded to the Flight Recorder Laboratory of AAIB. Detailed technical testing of Learjet 45 VT-SSK (CVR) manufactured by Honeywell is underway. Special technical assistance has also been sought from the accredited representative of the manufacturing country for data retrieval.
The investigating agency clarified that the entire process is being conducted in an impartial and evidence-based manner, in accordance with the prescribed technical and procedural standards. The AAIB also said that further information will be shared at the appropriate stage of the investigation while maintaining transparency.
The Bureau has appealed to all stakeholders and the general public to avoid any kind of speculation and allow the investigation to proceed as per established procedures. According to officials, the purpose of this investigation is to draw scientific and impartial conclusions about the cause of the accident, so that recurrence of such incidents can be prevented in future and aviation safety can be strengthened.
It is noteworthy that on January 28, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar died in a plane crash near Baramati Airport in Maharashtra. The Civil Aviation Ministry had constituted a three-member committee to investigate the tragedy.
According to an official statement from the ministry, a three-member team of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) along with the AAIB reached the crash site on Wednesday. The Director General of AAIB also personally visited the site and inspected the wreckage of the Learjet 45 aircraft.
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