Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Nationalist Congress Party leader Ajit Pawar died when his chartered plane crashed while landing at Baramati airport on Wednesday morning, killing him and four others. His unexpected death leaves a leadership vacuum in the Ajit Pawar‑led NCP faction, raising questions about who will take charge. Options include his wife Sunetra Pawar or senior leaders such as Praful Patel and Sunil Tatkare, though all face challenges. There is also speculation about possible reunification with Sharad Pawar’s NCP faction under cousin Supriya Sule amid political jockeying for control. (PC: NDTV)

New CCTV footage reveals the Learjet 45 carrying Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar descending steeply and crashing near Baramati Airport, then erupting into a massive fireball on Wednesday morning. The aircraft, on a charter from Mumbai, was attempting a second emergency landing when it nosedived and burst into flames, killing all five on board including two pilots and Pawar’s security personnel. The video captures the final moments before impact, with thick black smoke and debris. Preliminary reports suggest poor visibility could be a factor; authorities are investigating the crash’s cause.

Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar's Learjet 45 was cleared for landing at 8:43 AM but crashed a minute later at 8:44 AM, killing all five aboard. The civil aviation ministry revealed the pilot initially reported "runway not in sight" during the first approach, prompting a go-around. After reporting visibility moments later, the aircraft received landing clearance without readback confirmation before flames appeared at runway 11's threshold. Baramati operates as an "uncontrolled airfield" with flying school-managed ATC. Delhi-based operator VSR Ventures took down its website post-crash. The experienced pilots had 15,000 and 1,500 flying hours respectively. AAIB has assumed investigation responsibility. 

Aviation Minister K Ram Mohan Naidu revealed poor visibility at Baramati airport when Ajit Pawar's plane crashed Wednesday morning. The pilot initially reported runway not in sight, prompting a go-around, but confirmed visibility during the second attempt before the tragic crash. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau will analyze flight recorders, aircraft systems, crew records, and ATC data. Opposition leaders, led by Mamata Banerjee, demand Supreme Court-monitored probe, alleging compromised agencies. The VSR Ventures flight departed Mumbai at 8:10 AM, disappearing from radar at 8:45 AM. Witnesses described the aircraft appearing unstable before crash-landing with massive explosions. Maharashtra declared three days mourning; last rites scheduled Thursday with full state honors.

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar’s aircraft was cleared to land at Baramati airport at 8:43 am on January 28, 2026, just a minute before it crashed in flames, killing all five on board, the civil aviation ministry said. The Bombardier Learjet 45 had initially attempted a landing but went around after reporting the runway wasn’t in sight. On the second approach, ATC granted landing clearance but did not receive the required readback from the pilots; moments later flames were spotted near runway 11. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau has taken over the probe. (PC: HT)

Details of the last phone call made by flight attendant Pinky Mali have emerged after the plane crash near Baramati that killed Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and four others. Pinky told her father she was flying with Pawar to Baramati and would speak to him the next day. The call never came. The Learjet 45 aircraft, operated by Delhi-based VSR Ventures, crashed while attempting to land near Baramati airport on Wednesday morning. The plane had five people on board, including two pilots and a security officer. It departed Mumbai at 8.10 am and lost radar contact minutes before the crash. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau is probing the incident. (PC: NDTV)

A Learjet 45 carrying Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar crashed near Baramati airport on Wednesday, killing all five on board. The Civil Aviation Ministry said the aircraft was attempting a second landing at the time of the crash. Baramati is an uncontrolled airfield, where pilots manage traffic with limited ground support. The pilot was cleared to land at 8.34 am but did not provide a mandatory readback confirming the clearance. Earlier, the first landing attempt was aborted due to the runway not being visible, prompting a go-around. Flight tracking data showed the aircraft stopped transmitting signals minutes before impact. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau is probing the incident. (PC: NDTV)

The fatal plane crash that killed Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar has brought renewed attention to charter operator VSR Aviation, which was linked to a similar Learjet incident in 2023. The Learjet 45XR that crashed near Baramati on Wednesday was operated by VSR Ventures, a Delhi-based firm. In September 2023, another VSR-operated Learjet 45XR veered off a runway while landing in Mumbai during heavy rain and broke into two. All passengers survived that incident. Aviation regulators have launched probes into the Baramati crash. Officials are examining operational, weather, and safety records linked to both incidents as part of the ongoing investigation.

CCTV footage from near Baramati airport has captured the final moments of the plane crash that killed Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Wednesday. The visuals show the Learjet aircraft descending sharply before hitting the ground nose-first and erupting into flames within seconds. Thick black smoke and fire are seen rising from the crash site soon after impact. Officials said all five people on board died as the aircraft caught fire immediately after the failed landing attempt. Preliminary information suggests the jet was trying to land for the second time. Investigators are examining the footage to reconstruct the sequence of events leading to the crash.

Pilot Shambhavi Pathak was among five people killed when a private aircraft carrying Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar crashed near Baramati on Wednesday. Pathak was serving as first officer on the Learjet 45 operated by VSR Ventures and was flying from Mumbai to Baramati. The aircraft went down minutes before its scheduled landing. Pathak had been associated with VSR Ventures since 2022 and held multiple aviation licences, including a commercial pilot licence from India and New Zealand. She had also worked as a flying instructor. The crash killed all five on board, including Pawar, another pilot, a flight attendant, and a security officer. Investigations are ongoing. (PC: X)