Fatal accident occurs during landing attempt at uncontrolled airfield

In a shocking development that has shaken the nation’s political landscape, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar died in a fatal plane crash on Wednesday. The senior Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader was traveling to Baramati to address a series of political rallies for the upcoming Zilla Parishad elections when the tragedy struck.

Civil Aviation Ministry officials confirmed that five individuals were on board the ill-fated flight, including two crew members. "The passengers included Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra Shri Ajit Pawar. All the occupants of the aircraft received fatal injuries," the government stated in an official release.

Sequence of the Fatal Crash

Preliminary reports indicate the crash occurred at the Baramati airfield, which is classified as an "uncontrolled airfield." In such zones, pilots rely heavily on visual cues and information provided by local training instructors rather than sophisticated navigational aids.

According to the Air Traffic Control (ATC) logs, the sequence of events unfolded rapidly:

• 08:18 AM: The aircraft, registered as VI-SSK, established initial contact with Baramati ground control.
• Approach: The pilot was advised to descend using "Visual Meteorological conditions" because the regional airstrip lacks advanced navigational guidance.
• First Attempt: Crew members reported they were on the final approach to Runway 11 but could not spot the tarmac. They initiated a "go-around" to try again.
• Second Attempt: On the second approach, the crew confirmed the runway was in sight and received clearance to land at 08:43 AM.
• The Crash: Moments later, instead of a landing confirmation, ATC personnel witnessed flames erupting near the runway threshold at 08:44 AM.

Investigation and Aircraft Details

Pawar was traveling in a Learjet 45 aircraft, a twin-engine business jet owned by VSR Ventures Pvt. Ltd. Interestingly, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) had recently conducted a regulatory audit of VSR’s fleet in February 2025.

The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has officially taken over the probe to determine the exact cause of the accident. The DG of AAIB is currently en route to the crash site. This bureau is also currently investigating a separate high-profile aviation incident involving an Air India flight in Ahmedabad.

Wreckage from the jet was located on the left side of Runway 11. Emergency services rushed to the scene immediately, but unfortunately, there were no survivors. This tragedy comes just days before the scheduled Zilla Parishad voting on February 5.

Image Source: The News