The crash occurred shortly after 8:30 a.m. as the aircraft attempted to land at Baramati Airport amid dense morning fog. On board were Ajit Pawar, his personal security officer HC Vidip Jadhav, pilot Captain Sumit Kapoor, co-pilot Captain Shambhavi Pathak and flight attendant Pinky Mali. All five died at the site.
According to preliminary findings, the aircraft departed Mumbai at 8:10 a.m. and made an initial approach to Runway 11 at Baramati. Poor visibility prevented the pilots from establishing visual contact with the runway, forcing an aborted landing. During the second approach, the aircraft lost stability moments before touchdown and crashed approximately 100 feet short of the runway.
Sources familiar with the cockpit voice recording said Captain Kapoor did not issue a mayday call. The final audible words, spoken by Captain Pathak seconds before impact, were “Oh sht… oh sht,” indicating a sudden, critical loss of control.
CCTV footage from the airport perimeter shows the aircraft descending sharply before overturning and hitting the ground, triggering a large explosion. Eyewitnesses in nearby villages reported multiple blasts following the initial impact, with flames and thick black smoke engulfing the crash site.
“The fire was so intense that no one could go near the aircraft,” said a local resident who rushed to the airport after seeing the crash. Debris was scattered across nearby homes and fields, with investigators later recovering only the tail section and one engine largely intact.
Aviation officials said dense fog and low visibility were major factors, but stressed that technical failure and human factors would also be examined. “Weather conditions were challenging, but the absence of a distress call suggests events unfolded extremely quickly,” an official involved in the probe said.
Ajit Pawar was travelling to Baramati to address a public rally for the Maharashtra Panchayat elections. His death has triggered a wave of mourning across the state, while the crash has raised urgent questions about flight safety protocols during low-visibility operations at regional airports.
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has taken over the inquiry. A detailed report is expected in the coming weeks.
