The fatal crash of a Learjet carrying Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar at Baramati airport has once again brought India’s tabletop runways under scrutiny, reviving concerns about whether their design poses heightened risks or whether the dangers are being overstated.
Baramati airport, an elevated airstrip, became the focus of attention after the aircraft went down during its landing attempt on Wednesday morning. The incident has drawn inevitable comparisons with earlier tragedies at similar airports, most notably the 2020 Air India Express crash at Kozhikode during heavy rain and poor visibility, which killed 21 people, and the 2010 Mangalore disaster that claimed 158 lives. In both cases, official investigations largely blamed pilot error, though experts acknowledged that the tabletop design magnified the consequences of mistakes.
Tabletop runways are built on hilltops or plateaus, with steep drops at the ends instead of flat overrun areas. India has six such airports, including Kozhikode, Mangalore, Lengpui, Shimla, Pakyong and Baramati. Their elevated nature leaves very little margin for error and can create visual illusions during approach, making the runway appear closer or higher than it actually is.
However, some aviation professionals caution against placing the blame primarily on runway design. A senior pilot familiar with Baramati airport said a tabletop runway is fundamentally no different from any other runway in terms of landing parameters. According to him, what truly matters is whether the aircraft crosses the correct threshold, touches down at the right point and has sufficient usable runway length. In his assessment, factors such as visibility and pilot decision-making were far more critical in this case.
At the time of the accident, visibility was reported to be around 3,000 metres, below the generally recommended minimum of about 5,000 metres for safe operations at such airfields. The pilot suggested that continuing an approach without adequate visual contact with the runway is a serious error, especially when descending below circuit altitude.
He also explained that landing is a highly sensitive phase in which the aircraft must be fully stabilised. In the Baramati crash, the aircraft was initially aligned but then abruptly executed a manoeuvre known as a “wing over” before slamming into the ground, indicating a possible loss of control during the final moments.
The Learjet crashed just short of the runway edge at the compact Baramati facility, which sits over 600 metres above mean sea level and lacks advanced landing aids such as an Instrument Landing System. Flight tracking data showed the aircraft had departed Mumbai shortly after 8 am and was attempting a second approach when it went down around 8:46 am.
Another aviation expert, Commander Naveen Pandita, a former naval aviator now flying commercially, emphasised that tabletop runways inherently demand precision. He likened them to runways placed on the top floor of a building, where any misjudgment leaves no recovery space. According to him, one of the biggest hazards is the “black hole effect,” a visual illusion that can occur in low visibility or poor lighting, causing pilots to misjudge their height and descend too low if they rely on perception instead of instruments.
Pandita also pointed out that the absence of ILS at Baramati increased the difficulty of the approach. He noted that technology helps manage risk but cannot eliminate it, especially when visibility deteriorates. Smaller business jets, he added, often approach at higher speeds, lack thrust reversers and have less braking power than large commercial aircraft, making them more vulnerable to crosswinds and updrafts commonly found near plateau edges.
While experience with a particular airfield can reduce risk, such challenging airports usually require special training and clearances. Past disasters at Kozhikode and Mangalore prompted authorities to recommend longer safety areas and stricter procedures, recognising that tabletop runways carry greater consequences when things go wrong.
As investigators continue to analyse the wreckage and flight data, the Baramati crash has reignited debate over whether existing safeguards, pilot training standards and regulatory oversight are adequate, especially as regional and charter aviation continues to expand across India.
