Source NDTV
BARAMATI, Maharashtra — Safety concerns surrounding the Baramati airfield have resurfaced after a trainer aircraft operated by a private aviation academy overshot the runway on Sunday afternoon. The incident marks the second aviation mishap at the airstrip since the fatal crash in January that claimed the life of former Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar.
The incident occurred around 12:20 PM during a routine training exercise. According to officials, the aircraft was performing taxiing maneuvers and rejected take-offs when it failed to come to a complete stop on the runway. It continued past the runway threshold and veered off the extended paved surface to the right.
The trainee pilot on board managed to escape without injuries, and the aircraft sustained minor damage.
Key Details of the Incident
Location: Baramati Airfield, Pune district, Maharashtra.
Operator: Carver Aviation Academy.
Casualties: None; the trainee pilot was unharmed.
Weather Conditions: Clear and sunny at the time of the event.
Preliminary Findings: Authorities suspect the aircraft accelerated during taxiing, experienced technical difficulties, or missed the turn toward the runway.
Pattern of Incidents at Baramati
Sunday’s event comes roughly seven months after a tragic crash on January 28, when a chartered Bombardier Learjet 45 carrying Ajit Pawar and four others crashed while attempting to land in low visibility conditions, killing all occupants.
The airstrip saw another incident on May 13, when a single-engine training aircraft operated by Redbird Flight Training Academy made an emergency crash-landing near Gojubavi village after hitting a light pole following a technical snag. The cadet pilot in that incident also survived without serious injuries.
Local authorities and civil aviation officials have launched an inquiry to determine the exact cause of Sunday’s runway excursion and review operational protocols at the uncontrolled airfield.
