Maharashtra’s Deputy CM Ajit Pawar Killed in Baramati Plane Crash; Four Others Also Dead

Chartered Learjet 45 Crashes During Landing in Maharashtra

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and four others died after the chartered aircraft carrying them crash-landed while attempting to land at Baramati airport on Wednesday morning, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) confirmed. The Learjet 45 (registration VT-SSK) was on a flight to Baramati (via Mumbai) operated by a private charter company when it encountered issues during its final approach around 8.45 AM IST.

Flight tracking data from FlightRadar24 indicates that the jet was on a second approach, suggesting a possible go-around due to unstable approach parameters before the accident. The Learjet 45XR, owned and flown by New Delhi-based VSR Ventures Private Limited, crashed on the runway and was gutted by flames, leaving no chance of evacuation. All five occupants of the plane were killed in the accident: two flight crew members (the pilot-in-command and first officer), three passengers (including an attendant and the personal security officer of Ajit Pawar), as reported by NDTV.in.

Incident Occurs on Poll Visit Zilla Parishad Incident

Pawar, aged 66, was one of the senior political figures in Maharashtra and one of the primary figures in the governing alliance in the state. He was heading to the Baramati area to visit a series of campaign events before the Zilla Parishad elections, when the accident took place.

Images by the media houses, India Today and The Indian Express, depicted debris and wrecks all around the Baramati airport perimeter with smoke rising up soon after the incident, indicating how serious the mishap was. Fire and rescue services hurried to put the situation under control, and the airport was closed temporarily.

Learjet 45XR: The High-Speed Aircraft Involved in the Crash

The aircraft in question, as reported by Flightradar24 and NDTV, is a Bombardier-made Learjet 45XR, a mid-size business jet that was made from 1998 to 2009 and was meant to operate on the short- to medium-haul routes. With a service ceiling of 51,000 feet, twin Honeywell TFE731 engines, the aircraft can travel at Mach 0.78-0.81, and has a range of between 2,000 and 2,235 nautical miles, and can carry up to eight passengers. The Learjet 45 series, with a wingspan of 47 feet and a maximum take-off weight of approximately 9,752 kg are widely known to be fast and efficient in its operations. VSR Ventures is a company founded and operated by VK Singh, running one of the largest non-scheduled aviation fleets in India, which deals with private chartering, air ambulance, helicopter rental, and aircraft leasing with a portfolio of Beechcraft Super King Air B200 aircraft and the Agusta 109 helicopters, backed by full aircraft management and aviation consultancy services.

Continued Investigation and Response In The Country

The investigation into the cause of the crash involving aviation regulations and investigations into the flight data are currently examining the damaged aircraft to find out the root causes of the accident.

The death of Ajit Pawar has been followed by tributes on both sides of the political divide, with the Prime Minister and state leaders offering their condolences to the family and supporters. Additional technical and official changes will follow as the DGCA and other agencies issue conclusions in finer detail.