DGCA grounds four Learjet aircraft of VSR Ventures after Baramati crash

MUMBAI: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has ordered the immediate grounding of four Learjet 40/45 aircraft operated by VSR Ventures following a special safety audit conducted after the crash of a Learjet 45 at Baramati on Jan 28. The accident killed five people, including the then Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar.

The regulator said a multi-disciplinary audit team found “several non-compliances of approved procedures in the organisation in the area of airworthiness, air safety, and flight operations.”“In view of the non-compliances observed and considering the gaps in maintenance procedures it is decided to initiate the corrective measures by immediately grounding Learjet 40/45 aircraft with registration VT-VRA, VT-VRS, VT-VRV, and VT-TRI till continued airworthiness standards are restored,” the DGCA said.

The regulator added that deficiency reporting forms have been issued to the operator in the identified areas. The company has been asked to submit a root cause analysis on the non-compliances for further assessment by the DGCA. Further regulatory action will depend on the operator’s response and restoration of compliance with prescribed standards, it said.