Maharashtra Aviation Safety Tighter After VSR Action
In a significant regulatory intervention a month after a fatal corporate jet accident in western India, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has grounded four aircraft operated by private charter company VSR Ventures, citing serious procedural non-compliance in safety, airworthiness and flight operations. The move underscores heightened scrutiny of private flight operators and rekindles debate on aviation oversight and passenger safety in India’s expanding charter market.
The action follows the Learjet 45 crash near Baramati Airport on 28 January 2026, which claimed the life of a senior state leader and four others aboard, prompting a special safety audit of the operator. In investigations that followed, the DGCA found multiple lapses in compliance with established safety protocols governing aircraft maintenance and operations. As a corrective measure, four Learjets — all 40/45 series jets — have been grounded indefinitely until continued airworthiness standards are demonstrably restored.The audit team’s findings revealed gaps not only in documented procedures but also in their implementation across critical domains of air safety. According to the regulator, non-conformities uncovered during the review posed material risk to flight safety, warranting immediate action. The aircraft sidelined include jets registered under VT-VRA, VT-VRS, VT-VRV and VT-TRI. The DGCA has also issued deficiency reporting requirements, calling on VSR Ventures to perform a root-cause analysis of the shortcomings and submit corrective plans for further assessment.
Industry experts say the grounding reflects growing regulatory insistence on proactive quality control in a segment of civil aviation that has historically operated with lighter oversight than scheduled carriers. “Charter operators play a crucial role in India’s business aviation ecosystem,” said an aviation safety specialist, “but that makes it all the more important to ensure uniform compliance with global airworthiness norms, particularly after a loss of life in a high-profile accident.”The crash and subsequent audit have also drawn political scrutiny, with calls from elected representatives for greater accountability and transparency in the broader probe into the incident’s causes. The state government has sought a central investigation, signalling sustained pressure for clarity on systemic safety lapses.For the DGCA, the latest move comes amid a broader strategic emphasis on tightening oversight across non-scheduled operators. Earlier regulatory guidelines have emphasised phased safety audits of private air carriers, and the regulator has made clear that such reviews will continue to shape future compliance expectations.
As the preliminary accident report is due by the end of February, aviation stakeholders are watching closely to see whether deeper structural or procedural deficits emerge. For passengers and corporate clients reliant on charter services, the episode serves as a reminder of the critical interface between regulatory governance, operational discipline and the reliability of aviation infrastructure.
