Black box of ill-fated aircraft recovered, to ensure time-bound inquiry: Ministry

The Ministry of Civil Aviation on Thursday said it had activated all investigative and response mechanisms immediately after the tragic aircraft accident near Baramati, reiterating its commitment to completing a thorough and time-bound probe into the crash.

In an official statement, the ministry said the investigation is progressing swiftly and that the aircraft’s black box has already been recovered — a key step expected to aid investigators in reconstructing the final moments of the flight and determining the cause of the accident.

“Ensuring a thorough, transparent and time-bound inquiry remains a top priority,” the ministry said, adding that all procedures were initiated without delay following the crash.

Teams from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) were deployed to the crash site to examine the wreckage and gather evidence. According to the ministry, a three-member team from the AAIB headquarters in Delhi and another three officers from the DGCA’s Mumbai regional office reached the site on January 28. The Director General of AAIB, GVG Yugandhar, also arrived the same day to oversee the investigation.

The ministry said the probe has been initiated under Rules 5 and 11 of the AAIB Rules, 2025, and will be conducted strictly in line with established Standard Operating Procedures and laid-down guidelines.

“The Ministry of Civil Aviation remains fully committed to completing the investigation within a defined timeframe,” the statement said, stressing that findings will be based on technical analysis and evidence collected on the ground.

Meanwhile, Pune Rural Police have registered an Accidental Death Report (ADR) at the Baramati Taluka Police Station in connection with the crash, which claimed the lives of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and others. Police officials said investigations are underway to examine all circumstances surrounding the incident.

As per procedure, the ADR will be transferred to the Maharashtra Criminal Investigation Department (CID), which will take up the case after receiving inputs and findings from the AAIB’s technical investigation, police said.

With IANS inputs