On January 28, 2026, Maharashtra entered a state of mourning after the unexpected death of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in a private plane crash. The accident happened near the Baramati airstrip in Pune district, resulting in the deaths of all five people on board.
The Incident: A Timeline of Tragedy
The flight was supposed to be a routine campaign trip for the upcoming February 5 Zilla Parishad elections.
8:10 AM: The chartered Bombardier Learjet 45 (Registration: VT-SSK), operated by VSR Ventures, took off from Mumbai.
8:43 AM: The crew tried to land at Baramati but chose to make a “go-around” due to low visibility and dense cloud cover.
8:44 AM: Air Traffic Control (ATC) gave landing clearance for Runway 11. However, the cockpit did not provide the required “read-back.”
8:45 AM: Ground controllers saw a sudden burst of flames near the runway threshold. The aircraft had crash-landed in an open field and exploded on impact.
The Victims
The crash led to five fatalities. Authorities confirmed that the intensity of the fire made it hard to identify the victims; Ajit Pawar was reportedly recognized by his wristwatch and personal items.
Ajit Pawar (66): Maharashtra Deputy CM and NCP Chief.
Vidip Jadhav: Personal Security Officer (PSO).
Pinky Mali: Flight Attendant.
Captain Sumit Kapoor: Pilot-in-Command.
Captain Shambhavi Pathak: First Officer.
Investigation and Safety Concerns
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) and the DGCA have started a thorough investigation. Several key issues are being looked at:
The “Tabletop” Airstrip: Baramati airport is an uncontrolled airfield without a dedicated ATC tower, making landing during bad weather very risky.
Operator History: This crash was the second major incident involving a VSR Ventures Learjet 45; a similar aircraft had a landing accident in Mumbai in September 2023.
The Black Box: The Flight Data Recorder (FDR) and Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) have been recovered and sent for analysis to find out if there was a mechanical failure or human error due to spatial disorientation.
Political Aftermath and State Honors
The Maharashtra government announced three days of state mourning. On January 29, 2026, Ajit Pawar was cremated with full state honors at the Vidya Pratishthan ground in Baramati.
The funeral brought together political rivals in a rare moment of unity. Attendees included:
Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Nitin Gadkari.
Sharad Pawar, the NCP leader and Ajit’s uncle, who appeared visibly distressed.
CM Devendra Fadnavis and Eknath Shinde.
UPDATED NEWS
A possible pilot misjudgement while landing amid poor visibility may have led to the plane crash that killed Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and four others yesterday, sources have said, citing the findings of a preliminary probe into the tragic incident.
The Learjet aircraft carrying the senior politician crashed during a landing attempt near Baramati and caught fire early morning on Wednesday. All five on board, including the NCP chief, died on the spot.
It was the aircraft’s second landing attempt, and the visibility in Baramati was reportedly poor. A preliminary analysis of the crash suggests there was a possible pilot misjudgement, sources said.
Captain Sumit Kapur’s Family Mourns
Not jus
t Pawars, four more families are mourning today. Learjet 45, an aircraft that crashed in Baramati on Wednesday morning, was carrying five people: Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, his personal security officer Vidip Jadhav, flight attendant Pinky Mali, Pilot-in-Command Sumit Kapur, and Second-in-Command Shambhavi Pathak.
Sumit Kapur’s family mourns at Punjabi Bagh in Delhi, where his funeral will be held.
Investigation important but can’t be called conspiracy, says SP leader Anand Bhadauriya
On CM Mamta Banerjee’s statement, Samajwadi Party Leader Anand Bhadauriya says, “…It was a tragic incident, and our party’s sympathy, along with the entire country’s sympathies, is with the Pawar family. Ajit Pawar was a prominent leader of Maharashtra… As far as Mamata Banerjee’s statement is concerned, an investigation should take place, but it cannot be called a conspiracy. Yet a detailed investigation is needed to understand the reason behind the crash, as many similar incidents have happened in the past…”
Mamata has been a conspirator, says BJP Leader Sanjay Jaiswal
On WB CM Mamata Banerjee’s statement, BJP Leader Sanjay Jaiswal says, “… It was a tragic incident, and we lost a prominent leader. Our sympathy with the Pawar family. Sharad Pawar’s statement has put an end to all discussions… Mamata Banerjee has been a conspirator herself, conspiring in Bengal and giving shelter to illegal Rohingyas and Bangladeshis…”
