ISLAMABAD: A devastating plane crash in Maharashtra’s Pune district hasended the life of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, a seasoned politicianknown for his grassroots influence and long tenure in state administration.The incident unfolded on the morning of January 28, 2026, when the Learjet45, registered as VT-SSK and operated by Delhi-based VSR Aviation, failedto complete its landing approach at Baramati Airport. Pawar, aged 66, wasen route from Mumbai to his home constituency to address multiple publicmeetings ahead of the Zilla Parishad polls scheduled for early February.
The aircraft departed from Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji MaharajInternational Airport around 8:10 am IST for the short 40-minute flight.Flight tracking data shows the plane established contact with Baramati airtraffic control at approximately 8:18 am, reporting initial difficulties insighting the runway under prevailing visual meteorological conditions.After initiating a go-around maneuver, the pilots reportedly regainedvisual contact and received clearance for Runway 11. However, the aircraftveered off the side during the final descent, resulting in a catastrophicimpact and fire that destroyed the jet completely.
On board were five individuals: Ajit Pawar, his personal security officerVidip Jadhav, flight attendant Pinki Mali, and the twopilots—Pilot-in-Command Captain Sumit Kapoor and co-pilot Captain ShambhaviPathak. Authorities from the Directorate General of Civil Aviationconfirmed no survivors, with bodies recovered and taken to Baramati MedicalCollege and Hospital. Eyewitness accounts described explosions and intenseflames near the runway shortly after the crash, underscoring the severityof the impact.
Captain Shambhavi Pathak, serving as first officer, had joined VSR Aviationin 2022 following training in New Zealand and obtaining her commercialpilot license. She held a frozen Airline Transport Pilot License from theDGCA and prior experience as an assistant flying instructor. Captain SumitKapoor brought extensive experience, with over 16,000 logged flight hours.The crew’s professionalism has been highlighted in initial tributes, evenas questions arise about operational factors in the accident.
Ajit Pawar, nephew of veteran leader Sharad Pawar, had built a formidablepolitical base in Baramati through cooperative movements and developmentinitiatives. A seven-time MLA, he served multiple terms as deputy chiefminister and played a pivotal role in Maharashtra’s coalition politics,including recent alignments within the National Democratic Alliance. Hisdeath has left a significant void in the Nationalist Congress Party andstate governance, particularly in the sugar belt region where his influenceremained unchallenged.
Political leaders across party lines expressed profound grief. PrimeMinister Narendra Modi described Pawar as a dedicated public servant withstrong grassroots connect, while Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis calledhim a generous friend and contributor to development. Maharashtra declaredthree days of state mourning, with family members, including wife SunetraPawar and relatives, converging on Baramati amid widespread condolencesfrom figures like Mamata Banerjee and others.
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The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau has launched a formal probe intothe crash, examining potential causes such as weather visibility, runwayconditions, aircraft maintenance history, and pilot decision-making duringthe go-around and second approach. The Learjet 45 model, manufactured byBombardier, is a mid-size business jet commonly used for charteroperations, though the operator VSR Aviation faced scrutiny following aprior incident in 2023 involving a different aircraft.
This tragedy highlights ongoing concerns in private aviation safety,especially for high-profile charter flights in challenging landingenvironments. As investigations proceed, the nation mourns a leader whoseadministrative acumen and political legacy shaped Maharashtra for decades,while remembering the skilled aviators who lost their lives in service.
Source:https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/ajit-pawar-news-live-updates-plane-crash-maharashtra-deputy-cm-health-baramati-latest-news-101769572584405.html
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