In a shocking tragedy that has gripped Maharashtra, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar perished in a horrific private jet crash near Baramati airport on Wednesday morning. The Learjet 45, carrying Pawar, his security guard, and three crew members, burst into flames upon a botched landing, claiming all five lives aboard.
Pawar had departed Mumbai early that day for Baramati to address four public rallies ahead of district council elections. Eyewitnesses reported the plane struggling during descent around 8:45 AM, veering off the runway, slamming into the edge, and erupting in a massive fireball. Firefighters and police rushed to the scene, but the inferno was too intense for any rescue attempts.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has initiated a comprehensive investigation. Teams are meticulously examining the wreckage site, documenting debris patterns, and photographing impact angles to reconstruct the sequence of events. The black box will reveal the aircraft’s technical status during flight and pre-flight maintenance records will be scrutinized for lapses.
Cockpit voice recordings will shed light on the pilots’ final communications and decisions, while air traffic control transcripts will be analyzed for procedural errors. Investigators are also probing external factors like weather conditions, runway state, and wind direction.
Pawar’s untimely demise has plunged the state into mourning. A towering figure in Maharashtra politics and NCP leader, his loss reverberates across party lines. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and others have declared it an irreparable blow. All government functions statewide have been suspended as tributes pour in, marking the end of an era in regional leadership.