Details of the Fatal Crash

The Learjet 45XR, bearing registration number VT-SSK, departed from Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport at approximately 8:10 AM IST. The short 40-minute flight to Baramati was scheduled to transport Pawar to his home constituency, where he had planned to address multiple public meetings throughout the day. Flight tracking data from Flightradar24 revealed that the aircraft reached a cruising altitude of 19,000 feet before beginning its descent toward Baramati Airport.

Eyewitness accounts paint a harrowing picture of the final moments. According to local residents who witnessed the tragedy, the aircraft appeared unstable during its approach to runway 11 at Baramati Airport. The plane attempted an initial landing around 8:30 AM but failed, possibly due to visibility issues or technical difficulties. During a second approach attempt approximately 15 minutes later, the aircraft crashed near the runway threshold and immediately erupted in flames.

One eyewitness described the horrifying scene to news agencies, stating that the aircraft was engulfed in fire upon impact, followed by four to five additional explosions. Emergency responders who rushed to the scene found the wreckage scattered across an open field, with intense flames preventing any rescue attempts. The fire was so severe that it took considerable time for emergency crews to secure the area and begin recovery operations.

Victims of the Tragedy

The five individuals who perished in the crash have been identified by aviation authorities and family members. Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar was the primary passenger aboard the ill-fated flight. Born on July 22, 1959, Pawar had served as one of Maharashtra’s most prominent political figures for over three decades. The nephew of veteran politician Sharad Pawar, founder of the Nationalist Congress Party, Ajit Pawar had represented the Baramati constituency for a record eight consecutive terms since his first election in 1991.

The other victims included Vidhit Jadhar, Pawar’s personal security officer from the Mumbai Police Special Protection Office, who had been assigned to protect the deputy chief minister. An attendant whose identity was confirmed by officials also lost their life in the crash. The flight crew consisted of two experienced aviation professionals: Captain Sumit Kapur, the pilot-in-command who had logged an impressive 16,500 hours of flight time, and First Officer Shambhavi Pathak, the co-pilot. The flight also had one flight attendant on board, identified as Pinky Mali.

The Aircraft and Operator Background

The Learjet 45 involved in the crash was a 16-year-old twin-engine business jet manufactured by Bombardier Aerospace. Known for its performance capabilities and ability to operate from shorter runways, the Learjet 45 has been a popular choice in the charter aviation segment despite production being discontinued in 2021. The aircraft type continues to be widely operated globally, with servicing and maintenance support still readily available. However, aviation records indicate that approximately 200 accidents have been linked to Learjet aircraft worldwide over the years.

VSR Ventures Pvt. Ltd., the Delhi-based charter company operating the aircraft, has been under scrutiny following this tragedy. This marks the second serious incident involving a VSR Ventures Learjet in less than three years. On September 14, 2023, another Learjet 45XR operated by the company, registered as VT-DBL, skidded off the runway at Mumbai Airport during heavy rain and reduced visibility. While all eight occupants survived that incident, they sustained injuries when the fuselage broke into two pieces during the runway excursion. Investigators found that multiple cockpit warnings, including stall and terrain alerts, had been activated before that landing.

Investigation and Official Response

The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau, operating under India’s Ministry of Civil Aviation, has launched a comprehensive investigation into the crash. The AAIB team visited the crash site on Wednesday to begin evidence collection and analysis. Investigators are working to recover the aircraft’s flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder, commonly known as the black boxes, which will provide crucial information about the aircraft’s final moments and any technical malfunctions that may have occurred.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation confirmed in an official statement that all regulatory protocols are being followed in the investigation. Preliminary factors under examination include possible poor visibility conditions at the time of landing, technical issues that may have emerged during the second landing attempt, and the aircraft’s maintenance history. VSR Ventures officials have stated that the aircraft was fully airworthy and had undergone all required inspections, though these claims will be thoroughly verified during the investigation.

Weather conditions at the time of the crash are also being analyzed. While Baramati Airport does not have an automatic weather reporting system, meteorological data from nearby Navi Mumbai International Airport and other regional stations is being reviewed to determine if atmospheric conditions played a role in the accident. Flight tracking data shows the aircraft made two separate approach attempts, suggesting the pilots encountered difficulties during the initial landing attempt.

Political Impact and National Mourning

The sudden death of Ajit Pawar has left Maharashtra’s political establishment in profound shock and grief. As the second-highest elected official in India’s wealthiest state, Pawar wielded considerable influence in the state’s sugar belt and was known for his exceptional ability to mobilize rural voters. He had served as Maharashtra’s deputy chief minister for a sixth time, working as a key ally of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party in the state government.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis declared three days of state mourning following the tragedy. During this period, flags will fly at half-staff across the state, government offices and schools will remain closed, and all public events have been cancelled. The mourning period reflects official recognition of Pawar’s long service and substantial influence in Maharashtra politics spanning more than three decades.

Chief Minister Fadnavis expressed his devastation in a social media post, stating that he had no words to express his emotions and that he had lost a strong and generous friend. The Chief Minister, along with Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Maharashtra Governor Acharya Devvrat, visited Baramati to meet Pawar’s widow, Sunetra Pawar, who serves as a Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament, to offer their condolences.

Condolences Pour In From Across India

Tributes and condolences flooded in from political leaders across party lines, highlighting Pawar’s impact on Indian politics. Prime Minister Narendra Modi described Pawar’s untimely demise as very shocking and saddening, noting that he was widely respected as a hardworking personality. Modi emphasized that Pawar’s passion for the empowerment of the poor and deprived was particularly noteworthy, and that his contributions to Maharashtra’s development would be remembered for years to come.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah personally called Pawar’s family members to convey his condolences on behalf of the Prime Minister. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge described Pawar as a seasoned politician who discharged his responsibilities toward his people with sincerity and astuteness. Kharge also called for a thorough probe into the air crash, emphasizing that such incidents involving political leaders traveling for urgent work deserve comprehensive investigation.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah expressed deep sadness over the tragedy, describing Pawar’s passing as a profound loss to public life. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee went further, demanding a Supreme Court-monitored probe into the crash, alleging that other investigative agencies have been completely compromised. Banerjee stressed that only a probe under Supreme Court supervision would be credible and capable of revealing the truth behind the accident.

Ajit Pawar’s Political Legacy

Ajit Pawar’s political career spanned over three decades and was marked by both significant achievements and controversies. He began his political journey with the Indian National Congress in the late 1980s, heavily influenced by his uncle, Sharad Pawar, one of Maharashtra’s most powerful politicians. When Sharad Pawar formed the Nationalist Congress Party in 1999, Ajit joined immediately and became one of the party’s most prominent faces.

Pawar built his political base through the grassroots cooperative movement, particularly in Maharashtra’s sugar belt, where he developed deep connections with farmers and rural communities. His constituency of Baramati underwent significant transformation under his leadership, with numerous infrastructure projects including wider roads, improved civic facilities, and enhanced public services. His contributions to the Pimpri-Chinchwad area were also substantial, where he championed large-scale development initiatives.

Throughout his career, Pawar served multiple terms as Maharashtra’s deputy chief minister in various coalition governments led by the NCP. His political journey took dramatic turns in recent years. In 2019, he briefly left the NCP to join the BJP’s cabinet in Maharashtra as deputy chief minister, only to return to the party later. In 2023, he orchestrated a significant split within the NCP by aligning his faction with the BJP-led coalition. The Election Commission of India officially recognized Ajit Pawar’s faction as the legitimate NCP in February 2024, and he was sworn in as deputy chief minister for a sixth time.

However, Pawar’s career was not without controversy. He faced allegations in the Maharashtra irrigation scam, where he was accused of involvement in irregularities related to awarding contracts worth millions of dollars for civic projects between 1999 and 2009. More recently, he was named in a land scam case in Pune city, with a company owned by his son accused of purchasing reserved government land below market value. Despite these controversies, Pawar remained a formidable political force in Maharashtra until his untimely death.

Aviation Safety Concerns in India

The tragic death of Ajit Pawar has once again drawn attention to a disturbing pattern in Indian public life involving senior political leaders losing their lives in aviation accidents. This recurring phenomenon has raised serious questions about aviation safety standards, particularly for charter flights carrying VIP passengers. The incident marks another chapter in a grim history of political leaders dying in air crashes, dating back to 1965 when former Gujarat Chief Minister Balwantrai Mehta died after his plane was shot down during the India-Pakistan war.

More recently, former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani perished in the devastating Air India crash in Ahmedabad in 2025. These incidents have prompted aviation safety experts to call for enhanced safety protocols, more stringent maintenance requirements, and improved weather monitoring systems at smaller regional airports that frequently handle VIP traffic but may lack advanced safety infrastructure.

Baramati Airport, where the crash occurred, is a small regional facility serving the city of Baramati in Pune district. Located approximately 100 kilometers southeast of Pune, the airport primarily supports general aviation, charter flights, and government or private aircraft rather than scheduled commercial services. The airport has a single runway designated 11/29 and limited infrastructure designed to handle business jets, turboprops, and helicopters. Notably, Baramati Airport does not have an automatic weather reporting system, which could provide crucial real-time atmospheric data to pilots during landing approaches.

Family and Personal Life

Ajit Pawar is survived by his wife Sunetra Pawar, a Member of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha, and two sons, Parth Pawar and Jay Pawar. His family members, along with NCP leaders including his cousin Supriya Sule, rushed to Baramati from various parts of the country upon learning of the tragedy. The Pawar family has been at the center of Maharashtra politics for generations, with Ajit’s uncle Sharad Pawar serving as a towering figure in both state and national politics.

The loss has devastated not only the immediate family but also the broader Pawar political dynasty that has shaped Maharashtra’s political landscape for decades. Thousands of NCP workers and supporters gathered at the party office in Delhi and various locations across Maharashtra to pay tribute to their leader. Emotional scenes were witnessed at the NCP headquarters, where party workers mourned the loss of a leader they considered integral to the organization’s identity and electoral success.

Impact on Upcoming Elections

Pawar’s death comes at a critical time for Maharashtra politics, occurring just days before the February 5 zilla parishad elections for which he was actively campaigning. The deputy chief minister was scheduled to address four rallies in Pune district on the day of the crash, demonstrating his continued active involvement in grassroots politics despite holding high office. His absence will create a significant void in the NCP’s campaign strategy and may impact the party’s performance in the upcoming local body polls.

Political analysts note that Pawar’s unique ability to connect with rural voters and his deep understanding of cooperative politics made him an irreplaceable asset during election campaigns. The NCP will now need to rapidly reorganize its campaign efforts and leadership structure to navigate the upcoming elections without one of its most effective campaigners and strategists.

Forensic Investigation Underway

Forensic teams reached the crash site hours after the accident to conduct detailed investigations into the cause of the tragedy. The teams are examining the wreckage, collecting evidence, and documenting the crash scene to assist the official investigation. The recovery of the aircraft’s black box remains a top priority, as the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder will provide invaluable insights into what transpired during the aircraft’s final moments.

Aviation experts will analyze multiple factors including the aircraft’s mechanical condition, pilot actions, weather conditions, air traffic control communications, and airport infrastructure. The investigation is expected to take several months before conclusive findings can be announced. In the meantime, questions about VSR Ventures’ safety record and the maintenance standards for aging charter aircraft are likely to intensify, potentially leading to regulatory reforms in India’s charter aviation sector.

Conclusion

The death of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in the Baramati plane crash represents a profound loss for Indian politics and Maharashtra state in particular. The veteran politician’s three-decade career was marked by significant contributions to rural development, infrastructure projects, and grassroots political mobilization. While his political journey included controversies and party splits, his impact on Maharashtra’s political landscape remains undeniable. As investigations continue into the cause of the crash that claimed five lives, the tragedy has reignited concerns about aviation safety standards for charter flights and small regional airports in India. The three-day state mourning period reflects the magnitude of this loss, as political leaders across party lines unite in grief over the untimely death of one of Maharashtra’s most influential politicians. Pawar’s legacy of public service, development initiatives, and political acumen will be remembered even as questions about the circumstances of his death await answers from ongoing investigations.