The Flight Data Recorder (FDR) and the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) also known by the nickname of "the Black Box" were recovered from the mangled remains of the charter plane which crashed in Baramati by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) technical teams.
The Recovery Mission
Senior MoCA official confirmed the recovery and said the investigation is now "progressing expeditiously." These devices were found amidst the wreckage of the Learjet 45 (VT-SSK) passenger jet operated by VSR Ventures. Despite the intense fire that followed the impact, this Black Box was built to handle extreme heat and pressure. Investigators therefore remain hopeful that their internal data will still be intact.
- AAIB Oversight: Within hours of the crash, three officers from Delhi and a matching team from the DGCA Mumbai office arrived on scene.
- Next Steps: The recorders are being moved to a specialized lab in New Delhi to extract data. The CVR will offer final discussions between Captain Sumit Kapur and Co-pilot Shambhavi Pathak, while the FDR will provide thousands of parameters of an aircraft's speed, altitude, and engine performance.
Pay attention to the "Second Approach"
According to early flight reporting, the aircraft was seeking a second approach to the runway on the grounds of low visibility (3,000 meters) and the absence of an Instrument Landing System (ILS) at the Baramati airstrip.
The 8:44 AM Threshold
Radar shows it was cleared for landing at 8:43 am. A minute later airport personnel observed the explosion near the threshold of Runway 11.
The “Death Spiral”
Eyewitness accounts and grainy CCTV visual evidence indicate that the airplane flipped in midair, tilting fiercely to the left before the final plunge. The FDR data will be central to deciding if this was due to a sudden wind shear or a mechanical flight control jam.
Full Honors At State Funeral
As technical operations investigate the crash mystery, the city of Baramati is presently conducting the final rites of the 66-year-old leader.
- VVIPs are present: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and CM Devendra Fadnavis arrived earlier this morning to pay respect at the site of Vidya Pratishthan.
- State Mourning: Maharashtra is in a three-day state of mourning, with flags at half-mast on all government buildings.
The AAIB has assured a “transparent and time-bound inquiry” under Rules 5 and 11 of AAIB Rules, 2025. A preliminary report is expected to be released within 30 days.
