Surat Link to Baramati Plane Crash Raises Questions as Aircraft Flew from City Days Earlier

Surat | Gujarat — The tragic crash of a chartered business jet while landing at Baramati Airport in Maharashtra has taken a new turn after it emerged that the same aircraft had landed at Surat International Airport just days before the accident, triggering discussions and questions within the city.

The mid-size business jet, a Learjet 45 operated by New Delhi–based non-scheduled air operator VSR Ventures Private Limited, crashed during landing at Baramati Airport on January 28 at around 8.45 am, killing all five people on board. While authorities continue to investigate the cause of the crash, the aircraft’s recent movements have drawn attention, particularly its connection with Surat.

According to airport sources, the aircraft had landed at Surat International Airport on January 25 and January 26 after flying in from Mumbai. It is learnt that around 10 passengers, including family members linked to the owner of an ISPL cricket team playing matches in Surat, had travelled on the jet. The plane reportedly flew back to Mumbai later the same night after completing its Surat stopover.

Officials at Surat Airport confirmed that the aircraft underwent routine inspections during both landing and departure. “Standard operating procedures were followed. The aircraft had a valid airworthiness certificate issued by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA),” an airport source said, adding that no technical irregularities were flagged during its time in Surat.

The Learjet 45XR, manufactured in the 1990s under the super-light business jet category, is commonly used for luxury corporate travel, charter services and medical evacuation. Aviation experts note that while the aircraft model is known for speed and performance, landing-phase incidents often require close scrutiny of weather conditions, pilot inputs and runway parameters.

Sources also revealed that the same aircraft had been frequently operating at Surat Airport in recent days, ferrying passengers including celebrities who visited the city to attend Indian Street Premier League (ISPL) matches at the Lalbhai Contractor Stadium.

VSR Ventures Private Limited operates private jet charters, air ambulance services and aviation consultancy across India. Following the crash, aviation authorities are expected to examine flight logs, maintenance records and operational history, including the aircraft’s Surat sorties.

While officials maintain that all checks at Surat Airport were carried out as per norms, the revelation of the aircraft’s recent presence in the city has added a new layer to the ongoing investigation, keeping Surat firmly in the spotlight as authorities work to piece together the final moments of the ill-fated flight.