Ajit Pawar death: Shocking CCTV footage shows plane erupting in fire on impact, AAIB takes over probe in Baramati plane crash

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Ajit Pawar died in a plane crash on Wednesday morning.

According to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), five people, including crew members, were on board the chartered aircraft flying from Mumbai to Baramati when it crash-landed, killing all occupants.

CCTV footage of the incident has since surfaced, capturing the moment of the crash and a massive explosion at around 8:46 am.

As part of the investigation, the probe team will retrieve the flight recorder, the Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System (EGPWS) and the Digital Engine Electronic System (DEES). Airframe and engine logbooks, work orders, onboard documents and major inspection records related to the aircraft will be collected from the operator for detailed scrutiny.

Investigators have also sought DGCA records related to the aircraft and crew. Radar data, CCTV footage, air traffic control (ATC) tape recordings and hotline communications will be obtained for further analysis. Statements of eyewitnesses and other concerned personnel will also be recorded.

All you need to about Ajit Pawar

Ajit Pawar was the longest-serving Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra in non-consecutive terms, having held the position six times under different governments. He served as deputy chief minister in the cabinets led by Prithviraj Chavan, Devendra Fadnavis, Uddhav Thackeray and Eknath Shinde.

He was married to Sunetra Pawar and had two sons, Jay and Parth Pawar.

Pawar began his political career in 1982 after being elected to the board of a cooperative sugar factory. In 1991, he became chairman of the Pune District Central Cooperative Bank.

The same year, he was elected to the Lok Sabha from the Baramati parliamentary constituency, a seat he later vacated for his uncle, Sharad Pawar. Ajit Pawar went on to be elected seven times to the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly from the Baramati Assembly constituency, winning a by-election in 1991 and subsequently securing victories in 1995, 1999, 2004, 2009 and 2014.