DGCA orders special safety audit of 14 charter operators after fatal Baramati crash

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar's plane in flames after it crashed during landing, at Baramati in Pune district, Maharashtra. (File image)

• DGCA launches safety audit of 14 charter flight operators after fatal crash
• Audits aim to check compliance with safety and airworthiness requirements
• Recent incidents prompt tighter oversight of India's charter aviation sector

Did our AI summary help?

India’s civil aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), has initiated a targeted safety audit of 14 charter and non-scheduled flight operators amid heightened concerns over aviation safety in the sector.

The inspections, part of a special oversight exercise, began on February 9 and will continue until at least February 25, according to an official order issued by the regulator.

The decision follows a fatal charter aircraft crash at Baramati Airport in Maharashtra on January 28, which resulted in the deaths of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and four others. The aircraft involved, a Bombardier Learjet 45 operated by VSR Ventures was undertaking a non-scheduled flight from Mumbai to Baramati when it crashed during a second landing attempt.

In its order dated February 2, the DGCA said a special safety audit would be conducted on VSR Ventures. It advised for submission of the report by February 15, 2026.

According to the regulator, the audits are aimed at assessing compliance with safety, operational and airworthiness requirements across charter operations. Dedicated audit teams have been deployed for each operator, and all teams have been instructed to submit their findings to DGCA headquarters within 10 days of completing the audits.

Among the operators named in the audit list are Air Charter Services, Global Vectra Helicorp, Karnavati Aviation and state-run Pawan Hans. Redbird Airways is also included in the list of companies under scrutiny.

On February 8, 2026, a Cessna 172 aircraft operated by Redbird Training Academy was forced to make an emergency landing in an open field near Vijaypura after the aircraft reportedly experienced fuel starvation. No fatalities were reported in the incident.

The DGCA’s move signals a tightening of regulatory oversight over India’s rapidly expanding charter and non-scheduled aviation segment, as the regulator seeks to address safety lapses and restore confidence following a series of recent incidents.