Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar was killed on Wednesday when the chartered aircraft he was travelling in crashed near Baramati airport in Pune district. All five people on board perished in the incident, which occurred during the plane’s attempt to land.
According to details received by The Chenab Times, the Bombardier Learjet 45, operated by Delhi-based VSR Ventures Pvt Ltd and registered as VT-SSK, took off from Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport around 8:10 am and was headed to Baramati, Ajit Pawar’s political stronghold in western Maharashtra. The aircraft contacted Baramati air traffic control at approximately 8:18 am. During the initial approach, the crew reported that the runway was not in sight and executed a go-around. On the second attempt, the pilots indicated they had visual contact with the runway and were cleared to land around 8:43 am. Moments later, the plane veered off, crashed near the runway threshold, and burst into flames around 8:45 am. There were no survivors.
The victims included Ajit Pawar, aged 66; his personal security officer Vidip Jadhav; his attendant; pilot-in-command Sumit Kapur; and first officer Shambhavi Pathak. A cabin crew member was also among the deceased in some reports, though initial identifications focused on the core group. Eyewitness accounts and CCTV footage captured the aircraft tilting sharply left before impact, with flames engulfing the wreckage immediately. Preliminary observations point to possible pilot misjudgement amid low visibility, though technical issues are also under scrutiny. The plane had reportedly made multiple landing attempts.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation confirmed that the black box, comprising the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder, was recovered from the site on Thursday. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has intensified its probe, with a specialised team deployed to the crash location. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) described the incident as a crash landing at the runway threshold. Officials have assured a thorough, transparent, and time-bound inquiry. The aircraft’s operator, VSR Ventures, faced questions after reports noted a prior landing mishap involving one of its Learjets in 2023.
Ajit Pawar, a veteran politician from the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and nephew of senior leader Sharad Pawar, had served multiple terms as Deputy Chief Minister in Maharashtra. He was en route to campaign in Baramati ahead of local elections. His death has created a significant political vacuum in the state, where he was a key figure in the ruling alliance. The Maharashtra government declared three days of mourning. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other national leaders paid tributes, expressing shock over the loss of a seasoned grassroots leader.
Rescue operations at the site involved local authorities and fire services, but the intense blaze prevented any immediate recovery efforts. Bodies were later identified using personal items such as Pawar’s wristwatch and his typical seating position in aircraft. DNA samples were collected for confirmation. Last rites for some victims, including crew member Pinky Mali, were performed in Mumbai amid public grief.
The crash has renewed attention on safety protocols for chartered flights carrying high-profile individuals, particularly at smaller airstrips like Baramati, which features a table-top runway. Aviation experts have highlighted factors such as weather conditions and approach challenges in initial assessments, though no official cause has been determined. The investigation continues as Maharashtra and the nation mourn the tragic end to a prominent political career.
The Chenab Times News Desk