Liputan6.com, Jakarta - A private jet crash that rocked India on Wednesday morning, January 28, 2026, claimed the lives of five people, including Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar.
The tragic incident happened at around 8:30 a.m. local time as the Learjet 45XR aircraft attempted to land at Baramati Airport in Pune district.
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The plane, which took off from Mumbai at 8:10 a.m., suddenly disappeared from radar at around 8:45 a.m., sparking serious concern.
Shortly after, tragic news emerged when the plane was found crashed in an open field, approximately 254 km from the state capital, Mumbai.
All passengers and crew were confirmed dead at the scene.
The tragic incident happened as Ajit Pawar was en route to attend a series of important public meetings ahead of the Zilla Parishad elections.
How the Fatal Plane Crash Happened
The Learjet 45XR, registered VT-SSK, departed Mumbai at 8:10 a.m. local time.
Its destination was Baramati Airport, where Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar was scheduled to attend a political rally.
However, at around 8:45 a.m., the plane suddenly disappeared from radar, sparking fears of an accident.
The crash happened as the plane attempted an emergency landing at Baramati Airport.
Witnesses at the scene described terrifying moments as the plane appeared to nosedive and lose control then plunged into a freefall, impacted the ground, and exploded, leaving debris scattered across an open field.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) of India immediately intervened to conduct a preliminary investigation.
Initial reports indicated that the plane encountered difficulties approaching the runway, leading to a failed emergency landing attempt.
This incident highlights the risks of flying, especially at uncontrolled airfields like Baramati, which lack dedicated Air Traffic Control (ATC).
Identities of the Victims and the Aircraft Involved
The tragic plane crash killed five people, with no survivors.
One of the primary victims was Ajit Pawar, the 66-year-old Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, a prominent political figure in India.
His passing has left his family and constituents in deep sorrow.
In addition to Ajit Pawar, the four other victims who died in the crash were:
- Captain Sumit Kapur (pilot-in-command) with 15,000 hours of flight experience.
- Captain Shambhavi Pathak (co-pilot) with 1,500 hours of flight experience.
- Pinky Mali (flight attendant).
- Vidip Jadhav (Ajit Pawar's personal security guard).
The aircraft involved in this crash was a Learjet 45XR, a 16-year-old private jet.
It was operated by VSR Aviation, a company that provides charter and medivac services.
The ill-fated aircraft's registration number, VT-SSK, is currently under further investigation.
A Brief Profile of Ajit Pawar
Ajit Pawar, who died at the age of 66, was a key political figure and the second-highest elected official in Maharashtra, one of India's richest states.
His political career began in the late 1980s with the Indian National Congress, where he was heavily influenced by his uncle, Sharad Pawar, a senior political figure.
In 1991, Ajit Pawar was first elected to the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly from the Baramati constituency, a seat he successfully retained for eight consecutive terms.
When his uncle formed the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) in 1999, Ajit Pawar joined it and later served several terms as Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, making him the state's longest-serving Deputy Chief Minister.
Pawar was known for his strong influence in Maharashtra's sugar belt and was recognized for his ability to mobilize rural voters.
In 2023, he led a breakaway faction of the NCP to ally with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the state government.
Ajit Pawar is survived by his wife, Sunetra Pawar, who is a Rajya Sabha MP from the NCP, and his two sons, Jay and Parth.