A disturbing new video circulating on social media has reignited a fierce debate over aviation safety in India. Shared by Jay Pawar, son of the late Maharashtra leader Ajit Pawar, the footage allegedly shows a co-pilot asleep at the controls of a helicopter mid-flight. The clip has not only gone viral but has also put a spotlight back on the safety record of the charter company involved.
Jay Pawar didn’t mince words when posting the video, identifying the firm as VSR Ventures. This is the same aviation company behind the tragic Learjet crash in Baramati earlier this year—a disaster that claimed five lives, including his father’s. Pawar alleged that the individual seen resting in the cockpit is Rohit Singh, the owner of the firm. He characterised the behaviour as “unacceptable negligence,” noting that such lapses are a direct threat to passenger lives.
For Pawar, this isn’t just a matter of political or public oversight; it is deeply personal. He expressed that the loss of his father remains an “everlasting pain,” and seeing such lax standards in the cockpit is a shocking betrayal of public trust. His demands are clear: he is calling on the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to ground all aircraft operated by VSR Ventures immediately. He insists that no further flights should take place until a comprehensive investigation is finalized and legal action is taken against the management.
The timing of this video is particularly sensitive, coming on the heels of the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau’s (AAIB) preliminary findings regarding the January 28 crash. That report highlighted significant safety breaches, specifically noting that the VT-SSK aircraft attempted to land in Baramati under poor visibility. At the time of the accident, visibility was recorded at just three kilometers—well below the five-kilometer minimum required for a Visual Flight Rules (VFR) landing at an uncontrolled airfield.
The January crash occurred during a second landing attempt, resulting in the deaths of the pilot, co-pilot, a crew member, Ajit Pawar, and his security officer. With this new footage now in the public eye, the pressure is mounting on aviation regulators to prove that oversight is more than just a formality. As social media outcry grows, the focus remains on whether the DGCA will take the “strict action” Pawar and the public are now demanding.
