Landing Clearance Not Read Back: What Happened in the Final Moments on Ajit Pawar’s Plane

Uncontrolled Airport and Missed Landing Protocol: Baramati airport in Maharashtra operates as an uncontrolled airfield. Pilots share flight information without a full air traffic control system. On Wednesday, the Civil Aviation Ministry said the pilot of the Learjet 45 failed to give a mandatory readback of landing clearance. This step is a key global aviation safety rule.

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Sequence of Events Before the Crash

The private jet took off from Mumbai at 8:10 am and contacted Baramati airport at 8:18 am. Pune ATC later handed the aircraft over to local control. Pilot Captain Shambhavi Pathak asked about wind and visibility conditions. Officials reported visibility at around 3,000 metres, which experts consider adequate for landing.

The pilot aborted the first landing attempt after failing to spot the runway. She carried out a standard go-around. During the second approach, she confirmed the runway was visible. Authorities cleared the aircraft to land at 8:34 am. However, the pilot did not repeat the clearance, raising serious concerns.

Radar Loss, Crash and Ongoing Probe

At 8:43 am, the aircraft stopped transmitting ADS-B signals about 20 km from the airport. Minutes later, CCTV footage captured a fireball near a highway close to Baramati. The jet crashed roughly 100 feet short of the runway.

Emergency teams rushed to the site, but all five people on board died. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau has taken over the investigation.

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