AAIB urges DGCA to audit pilot training and add stall-recovery drills after Mumbai Learjet crash
The AAIB’s final report on the September 2023 Learjet crash at Mumbai recommends that the DGCA audit pilot training records and require stall-recovery simulator exercises for non-scheduled operators.
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau’s final analysis of the September 14, 2023 crash involving VSR Ventures’ Learjet 45XR (VT-DBL) at Mumbai airport put forward a series of safety recommendations. Central to the report is a call for the Directorate General of Civil Aviation to incorporate full-stall recovery drills—covering climb, cruise, approach and landing—into mandatory simulator training for pilots of non-scheduled and general-aviation operators.
The bureau also recommends a one-off verification of all fixed-wing pilot training records to confirm compliance with required exercises. Further, it urges the DGCA to issue specific directions for operators to develop methodologies that regularly audit training logs and enforce internal audits in both letter and spirit. The report advises VSR Ventures to improve crew checklist adherence and maintain accurate technical and airframe log-books, while suggesting the Airports Authority of India train controllers to ensure proper aircraft separation to mitigate wake turbulence. Contributing factors identified include marginal weather, a high tailwind, and pressure to land before a time restriction.
Why it matters
Ensuring pilots complete critical emergency training can prevent future accidents in India's growing non-scheduled aviation sector.
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