Union Home Minister Amit Shah, while reacting to the news of the sudden demise of Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, says, “Today, the news of the Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar was involved in a fatal plane crash near Baramati airport, and the aircraft type has been identified as a Bombardier Learjet 45 or Learjet 45XR. Multiple official reports specify that the private chartered business jet, operated by VSR Aviation and registered as VT-SSK, crashed during an emergency landing attempt, resulting in the deaths of all five occupants on board. The Bombardier Learjet 45XRis a twin-engine light business jet often used for executive and VIP charter travel, known for its compact size and speed. The incident occurred while the aircraft was approaching Baramati from Mumbai for a series of public meetings, and authorities confirm the aircraft belongs to a Delhi-based charter company. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation and multiple reports reference the exact make and model, also discussing the aircraft’s previous safety record and its role in similar incidents. Investigations are ongoing, but the aircraft type and registration have been consistently cited in all major updates surrounding the crash. A plane crash has killed the deputy chief minister of India’s Maharashtra state, Ajit Pawar, the country’s aviation regulator has said. The plane, which took off from Mumbai on Wednesday, crash-landed at the airport in Pawar’s constituency of Baramati, according to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation.
Two members of the prominent politician’s staff and two crew were also reported to have been killed. The cause of the crash has not yet been officially confirmed. Flight Radar, an online flight tracking service, said the aircraft was attempting a second approach to Baramati Airport when it crashed. The Times of India quoted aviation regulator officials as saying the aircraft, a Learjet 45 operated by a company called VSR, crashed at about 8:45am local time (03:15 GMT).
The newspaper said Pawar, the nephew of veteran politician Sharad Pawar, who founded the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), was on his way to attend a public rally for the Zilla Parishad elections. A witness quoted by the newspaper said the aircraft exploded moments after hitting the ground. When we rushed to the spot, the aircraft was on fire. There were four to five more explosions. People tried to pull the passengers out, but the fire was too intense, said the witness. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on X that Pawar’s “untimely demise” was “very shocking and saddening”. He was “widely respected as a hardworking personality”, the prime minister said. He had profound knowledge of administrative matters. His passion for the empowerment of the poor and the deprived was particularly noteworthy.
Ajit Pawar, deputy chief minister of India’s Maharashtra state, has died in a plane crash along with four other people, the country’s aviation regulator has said. The plane, which had taken off from Mumbai, crash-landed at the airport in Pawar’s constituency of Baramati, where it had been headed, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation said. The cause of the crash has not been officially confirmed yet. Two members of Pawar’s staff and two crew were killed along with the deputy chief minister. Visuals from the crash site show the wreckage of a plane engulfed in plumes of smoke and flames. Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote on X that he was “saddened” by news of the crash.
“My thoughts are with all those who lost their loved ones in the crash. Praying for strength and courage for the bereaved families in this moment of profound grief,” he wrote. In a separate post, he also paid tribute to Pawar.
Pawar – the nephew of veteran politician Sharad Pawar who founded the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) – was an influential politician in Maharashtra. His political career spanned decades and he served as the deputy chief minister of Maharashtra several times. A few years ago, he broke away from his uncle’s party with several lawmakers and set up his own party which India’s Election Commission later officially recognised as the NCP. His party was part of Maharashtra’s governing alliance along with Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party. Loss of Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister and our senior NDA colleague Ajit Pawar ji in a tragic accident has left my heart deeply distressed.” “The way Ajit Pawar ji dedicated himself to the welfare of every section of society in Maharashtra over the past three and a half decades cannot be expressed in words. Whenever we met, he would engage in long discussions on numerous issues related to the welfare of the people of Maharashtra. His passing is a personal loss not only for the NDA family but also for me.”, says Mr. Shah. “I express my deepest condolences to the Pawar family. In this hour of grief, the entire NDA stands firmly with the bereaved Pawar family.”, Mr. Shah adds.