Baramati/Mumbai, India Jan 28: Ajit Pawar, Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister and a key leader of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), was killed on Wednesday when a chartered private aircraft crashed while attempting to land near Baramati in western India, authorities said.
Pawar, 66, was among five people killed when the Bombardier Learjet 45, flying from Mumbai, burst into flames after a failed landing attempt at Baramati airport, his home constituency in Pune district. The aircraft was reportedly making a second approach when it lost control and crashed short of the runway in an open area near the airport.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) confirmed that all five people on board died, including the pilot-in-command Sumit Kapoor, co-pilot Shambhavi Pathak, Pawar’s personal security officer Vidip Jadhav, and flight attendant Pinky Mali.
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has launched a formal probe into the crash. Officials said the investigation will examine aircraft maintenance records, pilot logs, weather conditions and possible technical issues. No evidence of foul play has been established so far.
“There is no preliminary conclusion at this stage. The investigation will be transparent and thorough,” Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said, adding that both state and central agencies were cooperating fully.
Flight details and investigation
According to aviation officials, the 16-year-old aircraft (registration VT-SSK), operated by VSR Aviation, departed Mumbai around 8:10 a.m. and crashed at approximately 8:45 a.m. Eyewitnesses reported seeing the aircraft descend steeply before a loud explosion and fireball engulfed the wreckage.
Initial assessments by aviation experts cited by Indian media suggest that low visibility, technical malfunction or pilot error during the second landing attempt could be factors. Baramati airport is a small regional airstrip without advanced navigational aids.
The AAIB team has reached the crash site and the operator’s office in New Delhi. Officials said the aircraft’s flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder will be analysed once recovered. A final report is expected to take several weeks or months.
Political reactions and tributes
Pawar was travelling to Baramati to campaign ahead of the upcoming Zilla Parishad elections scheduled for February 5.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the death as “shocking and saddening” and spoke to NCP founder Sharad Pawar, Ajit Pawar’s uncle. Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, and several chief ministers across party lines offered condolences.
Maharashtra announced three days of state mourning. Pawar’s funeral is scheduled for Thursday in Baramati, with senior political leaders expected to attend.
Ajit Pawar was one of Maharashtra’s most influential politicians, having served as deputy chief minister six times and held key portfolios including finance and planning. In 2023, he split the NCP and allied with the BJP-led Mahayuti government, a move that reshaped the state’s political landscape and strained ties with Sharad Pawar.
Speculation and calls for inquiry
While authorities have described the crash as an aviation accident, some opposition leaders have called for an expanded investigation.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee demanded a Supreme Court-monitored probe, citing the timing of the crash amid shifting political alliances. Aam Aadmi Party leader Somnath Bharti and Congress leaders, including Govind Singh Dotasra, also raised questions, linking the incident to previous fatal crashes involving prominent Indian figures.
On social media platform X, unverified claims and conspiracy theories circulated widely, with users speculating about sabotage and political motives. However, senior officials and aviation experts cautioned against drawing conclusions before the investigation is completed.
Mainstream Indian media outlets, including NDTV, The Indian Express and Hindustan Times, have reported the incident as a tragic accident, noting that no official agency has suggested foul play.
Political impact
Pawar’s death leaves a leadership vacuum within his NCP faction and adds uncertainty to Maharashtra’s already fragmented political environment. Analysts say his absence could affect alliance dynamics ahead of local elections, though no immediate political realignments have been announced.
For now, investigators say the focus remains on determining the technical cause of the crash.
“This is a developing investigation,” a senior aviation official said. “Until the final report is released, speculation is unwarranted.”
