Ajit Pawar, Maharashtra Deputy CM, Among 5 Killed in Baramati Plane Crash; PM Modi to Attend Last Rites
In a tragic incident that has sent shockwaves across the nation, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and NCP chief Ajit Pawar was killed in a plane crash near Baramati airport on Wednesday morning. The charter aircraft, carrying five individuals including Pawar, crashed during its second landing attempt, bursting into flames and claiming all lives on board.
The Ajit Pawar plane crash occurred at approximately 8:45 AM. The Deputy CM was travelling from Mumbai to his hometown of Baramati to address a public meeting for the Maharashtra panchayat elections. Officials from the Maharashtra Aviation Department stated that the pilot initially aborted the first landing due to poor runway visibility. On the second attempt on Runway-11, the aircraft skidded, crashed, and was immediately engulfed in fire. No Mayday call was issued by the pilots.
The Fatal Flight and Immediate Aftermath
The aircraft, a Learjet 45 operated by VSR Ventures, was completely gutted. Alongside 66-year-old Ajit Pawar, the victims include his Personal Security Officer HC Vidip Jadhav, pilots Captain Sumit Kapoor and Captain Sambhavi Pathak, and flight attendant Pinky Mali. Eyewitnesses described a powerful explosion, with local villagers rushing to assist before emergency services arrived.
Visuals from theBaramati airport crash site showed devastating wreckage scattered near the runway. All five bodies were recovered and sent to a local district hospital. The scene quickly became a focal point for grieving supporters and officials.
National Mourning and Investigation Launched
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced a state holiday for schools and three days of state mourning. “This is an unprecedented loss,” Fadnavis stated, canceling all his schedules to visit Baramati. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah are expected to attend the last rites, scheduled for 11 AM tomorrow at the Vidya Pratishthan ground in Baramati.
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has initiated a probe. Teams have been dispatched to Baramati and the Delhi office of VSR Ventures. The operator claimed the pilots were experienced and suggested no technical fault with the aircraft, pointing instead to poor visibility. However, Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu promised a “transparent and accountable” investigation.
A Political Colossus Falls
TheAjit Pawar plane crash marks a seismic shift in Maharashtra's political landscape. A six-time Deputy Chief Minister and a shrewd political strategist, Pawar was a central figure in state politics for decades. Leaders across party lines, from PM Modi to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, expressed profound grief. Banerjee even called for a Supreme Court-monitored probe, citing concerns over the safety of public figures.
As Baramati and Maharashtra brace for a leader's final journey, the nation watches, united in sorrow. The focus now remains on the official investigation to unravel the precise causes behind this devastatingAjit Pawar plane crash, even as the political fraternity mourns the loss of one of its most formidable figures.
