Ajit Pawar Dies in Baramati Plane Crash: Private Learjet Down
Ajit Pawar Dies in Baramati Plane Crash: Private Learjet Down
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar dies in a private Learjet crash near Baramati; investigators examine low visibility and lack of navigational aids at the regional airstrip.
A private Learjet 45 carrying Maharashtra's Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and four others crashed shortly after takeoff near Baramati airport in Pune district. The nine-seater jet belonged to Delhi-based VSR Aviation and reportedly flew for around 35 minutes before the crash.
Initial reports point to low visibility in the area as a major factor. The pilots reportedly attempted to land but aborted and executed a loop to line up for another approach, when the aircraft crashed.
Baramati airport is a regional airstrip used mainly for pilot training and private operations; it lacks navigational aids to assist pilots during poor visibility, making landings visually guided and more challenging in such conditions.
An AAIB team has departed from Delhi to Pune and then to Baramati to inspect the crash site and begin the investigation. DGCA's AAIB Director General GVG Yugandhar will join from Mumbai as part of the probe.
The operator is Delhi-based VSR Aviation, which, according to DGCA records, operates a fleet of 18 aircraft. The incident marks a tragic chapter in Maharashtra's political and aviation landscape, with authorities continuing to gather facts and determine the exact sequence of events.
