Investigators have successfully recovered crucial flight data from the Learjet 45 that crashed in Baramati on January 28, killing Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and four others, the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) said on Tuesday.

According to the ministry, the Digital Flight Data Recorder (DFDR) has been successfully downloaded at the Flight Recorder Laboratory of the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB). The Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) is currently undergoing detailed technical examination.

The aircraft, a Learjet 45 registered as VT-SSK, was equipped with two independent flight recorders, commonly known as “black boxes.” These devices are designed to withstand extreme conditions, but both were exposed to intense heat and fire following the crash and suffered significant damage. This made the data recovery process complex and technically challenging.

Despite the damage, investigators have managed to extract data from the DFDR. This recorder stores critical technical information such as altitude, airspeed, engine performance, flight path, and pilot control inputs. Officials said the recovered data will help experts reconstruct the sequence of events leading up to the crash.

The CVR, which records cockpit conversations and background sounds, is still being analysed. Due to the extent of fire damage, Indian authorities have sought assistance from the Accredited Representative of the State of Manufacture to help retrieve and interpret the audio data. This is a standard international practice in serious aviation accidents.

The investigation is being conducted strictly under the Aircraft (Investigation of Accidents and Incidents) Rules, 2017, and in accordance with global safety standards laid down under ICAO Annex 13. Officials emphasised that the probe will be thorough, objective and evidence-based.

Authorities have also urged the public and media to avoid speculation while the investigation is ongoing, noting that conclusions will only be drawn after careful technical analysis of all available evidence.

The Learjet 45 crashed at Baramati under circumstances that are now under close scrutiny. The tragedy, which claimed five lives including that of Ajit Pawar, has led to calls for a swift and transparent investigation into the cause of the accident.

Further updates are expected once the analysis of the cockpit voice recorder is completed and investigators are able to correlate both sets of data.