The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has officially launched a high-level probe into the tragic plane crash that claimed the life of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Wednesday morning, January 28, 2026.
The 66-year-old leader was on his way to his home turf, Baramati, to campaign for the upcoming Zilla Parishad elections (scheduled for February 5) when his chartered jet crashed during landing.
The Investigation: What We Know So Far
- The AAIB Probe: A senior official from the AAIB confirmed that a team has been dispatched to the crash site at Baramati Airport. They will analyze the “black box” (Flight Data Recorder and Cockpit Voice Recorder) to determine if the crash was caused by technical failure, pilot error, or environmental factors.
- Patchy Track Record: Interestingly, reports have emerged that the same operator (VSR Ventures) was involved in a similar accident in September 2023 with another Learjet 45 (VT-DBL) at Mumbai Airport, though all passengers survived that incident.
- Eyewitness Reports: Locals reported the aircraft (registration VT-SSK) making a “strange loud noise” and appearing unstable on its second landing approach before sliding off the runway and exploding.
List of the Deceased
The DGCA and local authorities have confirmed there were no survivors. The five victims on board were:
- Ajit Pawar: Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra.
- Captain Sumit Kapoor: Pilot-in-Command.
- Captain Shambhavi Pathak: First Officer.
- Vidip Jadhav: Personal Security Officer (PSO).
- Pinky Mali: Personal Attendant.
State and National Tributes
- Three-Day Mourning: CM Devendra Fadnavis has declared three days of state mourning. All government programs have been suspended, and the national flag will fly at half-mast across the state.
- Public Holiday: A public holiday was declared in Baramati today as tens of thousands gathered outside the local hospital to pay their respects.
- The Pawar Family: Sharad Pawar, Supriya Sule, and Sunetra Pawar have arrived in Baramati. The funeral is expected to be held tomorrow with full state honors.
- Political Reactions: Leaders across the spectrum, including PM Narendra Modi, Mamata Banerjee, and Gaurav Gogoi, have expressed their grief, noting that Ajit Pawar’s “grassroots connect” was unparalleled in Maharashtra politics.