Baramati: A training aircraft operated by a private company crashed at Baramati airport in Maharashtra’s Pune district on Sunday afternoon, with no injuries reported. The aircraft suffered minor damage, officials said.
The incident occurred around 12.35 pm at a spot near the runway within the airport premises. Officials rushed to the site after receiving information and began assessing the circumstances surrounding the crash. The exact cause of the incident has not yet been established.
The latest crash comes months after a fatal aircraft accident near the same airport. On January 28, a Learjet 45 crashed near Baramati, killing five people, including Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar.
The Air Accidents Investigation Bureau (AAIB), which investigated the January crash, had said in its preliminary findings that visibility was below the required level at the time of the accident. The report also pointed to faded runway markings and loose gravel at the airfield and recommended that the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) ensure strict compliance with safety standards at uncontrolled airfields.
Baramati also witnessed another training aircraft crash in May. The trainee pilot escaped unhurt after the aircraft reportedly crashed near Gojubavi village, with a part of the plane hitting an electric pole.
The latest incident has renewed attention on safety arrangements at the airfield. Authorities are carrying out a detailed investigation to determine the circumstances that led to Sunday’s crash.