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Correspondent

23 August 2024 at 4:29:04 pm

Exit that shocked the nation

Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, four others killed in plane crash; Probe begins into the reasons for the crash Mumbai: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and four other persons on board an aircraft were killed after it crashed near the Baramati airport in Pune district on Wednesday. Pawar had taken off from Mumbai in the morning to address four rallies in the day in Pune district for the February 5 zilla parishad elections. The others killed in the tragedy were Captain Sumit Kapoor, who had a...

Exit that shocked the nation

Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, four others killed in plane crash; Probe begins into the reasons for the crash Mumbai: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and four other persons on board an aircraft were killed after it crashed near the Baramati airport in Pune district on Wednesday. Pawar had taken off from Mumbai in the morning to address four rallies in the day in Pune district for the February 5 zilla parishad elections. The others killed in the tragedy were Captain Sumit Kapoor, who had a flying experience of 15,000 hours, co-pilot Capt. Shambhavi Pathak with 1,500 hours of flying, Personal Security Officer (PSO) Vidip Jadhav and flight attendant Pinky Mali. The government released a statement detailing the sequence of events that led to the crash and Pawar's death. The aircraft, a Learjet, was cleared for landing in Baramati on Wednesday morning after a go-around due to poor visibility, but having finally received a clearance it did not give any read-back' to the ATC, and moments later burst into flames on the edge of the runway. In aviation parlance, a go-around is a standard procedure where a pilot discontinues a landing attempt and initiates a climb to fly another approach. It is used when a landing cannot be completed safely due to factors like poor weather, an unstable approach, or traffic on the runway. It is a proactive safety measure rather than an emergency. In aviation, a readback is a crucial safety procedure where a pilot repeats back the essential parts of a message or instruction received from Air Traffic Control (ATC). It acts as a "closed-loop" communication system, ensuring that the controller's instructions were heard and understood correctly by the flight crew. The aircraft was trying to land amid poor visibility, Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu told reporters in Pune. The statement by his ministry recounted the final minutes of the ill-fated Learjet 45 belonging to VSR Ventures Pvt Ltd that crashed, leading to the death of all five persons on board, including Pawar. Fatal Flight The ill-fated aircraft was a Bombardier Learjet 45, a twin-engine business jet commonly used for corporate and charter travel. Designed to carry between six and nine passengers, the Learjet 45 has a range of approximately 2,000 nautical miles and is powered by twin turbofan engines. The aircraft involved in the crash belonged to a charter operator and was being used for a non-scheduled private flight.According to preliminary information from aviation authorities and Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) sources, the aircraft encountered severe weather conditions while approaching Baramati. Dense fog enveloped the Pune–Baramati region at the time, drastically reducing visibility and complicating the landing procedure. Probe Begins A team from the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has reached the Baramati crash site to launch a forensic probe into the VSR Venture's Learjet 45 aircraft accident. "The investigation team has reached the (crash) site. They are on the work," the AAIB official told PTI. The official, however, declined to share further details. Earlier in the day, AAIB, which has the mandate to investigate all accidents and serious incidents/incidents involving aircraft with a gross weight of 2,250 kg or turbojet aircraft, was handed the probe into the crash. The aircraft, bearing registration VT-SSK, was being operated by the Delhi-based non-scheduled operator VSR Ventures Pvt Ltd. The crew was advised to descend in visual meteorological conditions at the pilot's discretion, the Civil Aviation Ministry said in its statement. At that time, the winds were calm, and visibility was around 3,000 metres, it said. Baramati airfield does not have an instrumental landing system - a precision radio navigation system that provides short-range guidance to an aircraft, allowing it to approach a runway at night, during bad weather and poor visibility. Ajit Pawar's last rites will be held with full state honours on Thursday in Baramati. Union Home Minister Amit Shah is expected to attend the funeral, which will be held at Vidya Pratishthan ground at 11 am. The Maharashtra government on Wednesday declared three days of state mourning across state till January 30 as a mark of respect to Ajit Pawar. The national flag will be flown at half-mast on all buildings where it is flown regularly. There will be no official entertainment during the mourning period. “Ajit's death was a big shock for Maharashtra, which has lost a hardworking and efficient leader. This loss is irreparable. Not all things are in our hands. A stand was floated from Kolkata that there is some politics involved in this incident. But there is nothing like this. There is no politics in it. It was an accident. I request not to bring politics into it.” Sharad Pawar, President, NCP (SP)

Vigilant Police

Mumbai’s Ganesh Visarjan passed off peacefully this weekend, despite a tense security backdrop. This was in no small part due to the efficiency of the Mumbai police. Just hours before the festival’s climax, the city received a bomb threat claiming an imminent attack involving 14 terrorists and hundreds of kilograms of explosives. Rather than succumb to panic, the Mumbai Police went on high alert, deploying over 21,000 personnel, conducting technical investigations and swiftly arresting the alleged hoaxer to ensure that the city’s biggest religious procession remained uninterrupted.


Every year, millions of Mumbaikars pour into the city’s streets to bid farewell to Lord Ganesh, immersing idols in the sea and other water bodies. Managing such an enormous public gathering is no small feat. This year, in addition to the routine challenges of crowd control, traffic management, and maintaining public order, the police had to contend with a disruptive hoax bomb threat aimed at stoking fear and disorder. Yet, despite these added pressures, it is to the Mumbai police’s credit that the celebrations unfolded without any untoward incident.


Just hours before the Visarjan, a chilling message sent to the traffic police’s WhatsApp helpline alleged that a terrorist outfit called ‘Lashkar-e-Jihadi’ had smuggled 400 kilograms of RDX into the city, spread across 34 vehicles with a plan to detonate them during the religious processions. In a city whose psyche has been indelibly scarred by the 2008 terror attacks and which is acutely familiar with the threat of terror, such messages can never be dismissed lightly.


Mumbai’s police apparatus reacted swiftly and professionally. An immediate alert was issued, critical locations were secured and a visible security presence was maintained across key procession routes. The trail led investigators to a 50-year-old man from Noida, Uttar Pradesh, who was swiftly arrested for originating the hoax threat.


Throughout the climax of the festivities, Mumbai’s police exemplified the correct balance between vigilance and composure. The Crime Branch, along with the Anti-Terrorism Squad and other agencies, conducted combing operations to ensure that no suspicious activity went unchecked.


Crucially, the success of this operation was not just about averting disaster. It was about safeguarding the city’s spirit. The sight of millions of Mumbaikars singing, dancing and participating in the Visarjan processions, undeterred by threats, was a testament to the resilience of India’s financial capital. The police’s professional conduct ensured that the religious ritual remained an occasion of joy, not fear.


For a nation increasingly vulnerable to hybrid forms of terror, Mumbai’s example underscores the necessity of preparedness, coordination, and an unwavering commitment to public safety. Vigilance must coexist with empathy and preparation must not lead to paranoia. The Mumbai Police’s steadfast execution of their duties this past weekend upheld not only public safety but also civic pride. In ensuring that millions could celebrate without fear, the Mumbai Police reinforced their role as guardians of both faith and public order. Their success deserves nothing less than broad and sincere praise.


 
 
 

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