Ajit Pawar, who was the longest serving Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra non-consecutively, was on board an aircraft that crash landed in Baramati, the Pune district, on Wednesday morning. As per DGCA’s confirmation, five people, including the crew, were on board the chartered plane flying from Mumbai to Baramati, ANI reported.
Ajit Pawar plane crash: Flight data
As India grapples to come to terms with the unprecedented tragedy, live flight tracker Flightradar24’s data show that the plane carrying Pawar was attempting a second approach to Baramati Airport when it crashed. The data also suggested that the plane flew for around 35 minutes before the crash.
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Flightradar24’s data further showed that after taking off from Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport at around 8:10 am, it disappeared from radar at about 8:45 am. Right before it vanished from the flight tracker, the plane’s flight path showed it made a loop to line up with the runway.
The crash occurred at the runway threshold in Baramati at 8:45 am this morning. Video of the crash circulating online showed billows of smoke rising from the burning wreckage of the plane scattered all over an open field.
Indian media reporting the crash of a business jet this morning has claimed the life of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and 4 others. The aircraft was attempting a second approach to Baramati Airport when it crashed. https://t.co/0RKiD9sZVU pic.twitter.com/1kcoWgc3I1
— Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) January 28, 2026 More about Ajit Pawar’s plane
Reports showed that the aircraft involved in the crash was a Learjet 45, bearing registration VT-SSK. The mid-size, twin-engine light business jet was manufactured by Bombardier Aerospace, and has a range of 2,000-2,235 nautical miles. Owned by Delhi-based VSR Aviation, it is often used for corporate travel.
An eyewitness of the crash landing in Baramati told ANI in Hindi that as he saw the plane descending, it seemed as if it would crash. As it ultimately hit the ground, a massive explosion followed, he added. He and several others rushed to the spot and saw the aircraft was on fire.
“There were 4-5 explosions in the aircraft again. More people came here, and they tried to pull the people out,” he shared with ANI. “But since this was a huge fire, people could not help. Ajit Pawar was onboard and this is really painful for us. I can’t describe it in words…”
Two more personnel (1 PSO and 1 attendant) were on the plane with the Nationalist Congress Party chief, who was headed to the Maharashtrian city to attend a public rally for the Zilla Parishad Elections.
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Ahead of the fatal crash, Pawar was in Mumbai, where he attended a meeting of the Maharashtra Cabinet Committee on Infrastructure, chaired by CM Devendra Fadnavis.
India in mourning after Ajit Pawar’s death
Sending shockwaves through the Indian politics landscape, the news of Ajit Pawar’s plane crash and death elicited strong reactions from across the board. Prime Minister Narendra Modi joined many others in sharing his heartbroken message on X.
“Shri Ajit Pawar Ji was a leader of the people, having a strong grassroots level connect,” PM Modi tweeted. “He was widely respected as a hardworking personality at the forefront of serving the people of Maharashtra. His understanding of administrative matters and passion for empowering the poor and downtrodden were also noteworthy. His untimely demise is very shocking and saddening.”
He added, “Condolences to his family and countless admirers. Om Shanti.” |
