Eyewitness Recounts Baramati Plane Crash In Which Ajit Pawar Has Been Killed

In a tragedy that has sent shockwaves through the nation, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar (66) and four others were killed in a horrific plane crash on Wednesday morning, January 28, 2026.

The accident occurred as the aircraft was attempting to land at the Baramati Airport in Pune district, the political bastion of the Pawar family.

The Sequence of the Crash

• Departure: The aircraft, a Learjet 45 (VT-SSK) operated by VSR Ventures, took off from Mumbai at 8:10 AM.
• The Descent: Around 8:45 AM, as the plane approached the Baramati runway, it reportedly appeared “unstable.”
• The Impact: According to the airport manager, the jet veered off the side of the runway during touchdown, slammed into an open field, and immediately exploded.
• Eyewitness Account: A local resident described the scene as “unbearable,” noting that after the initial impact, there were 4 to 5 secondary explosions inside the fuselage, making rescue impossible despite locals rushing to help with water and sand.

The Victims

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) confirmed that there were no survivors among the five personnel on board:

1. Ajit Pawar: Deputy CM of Maharashtra and NCP Chief.
2. Personal Security Officer (PSO): Part of Pawar’s security detail.
3. Attendant: A personal staff member.
4. Pilot-in-Command (PIC): A senior captain from VSR Ventures.
5. First Officer (FO): Co-pilot.

Political Impact and Aftermath

Ajit Pawar was traveling to Baramati to lead a final push for the Zilla Parishad elections, scheduled for next week.

• Family Reaction: His uncle Sharad Pawar and cousin Supriya Sule, who were in Delhi for the Budget Session, immediately departed for Pune. His wife, Sunetra Pawar, and sons, Parth and Jay, reached Baramati by noon.
• Investigation: The Ministry of Civil Aviation has ordered a high-level probe by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) to determine if the crash was caused by technical failure or environmental factors.
• State Mourning: The Maharashtra government has declared three days of state mourning, and the Kerala Legislative Assembly also observed a minute of silence today in his honor.