The aircraft carrying Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar crashed at Baramati while attempting to land, killing all five people on board. According to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the pilots faced difficulty spotting the runway during their first approach, prompting a go-around for a second attempt. No mayday call was issued. Preliminary findings point to a possible technical failure, with the pilot reportedly losing control during the final approach. A detailed investigation is underway, and efforts to recover the black box are ongoing.
The official chronological record shows that the Learjet first made contact with the Baramati station at 8:18 a.m. on Wednesday. Subsequent communication occurred when the aircraft was approximately 30 nautical miles from its destination, after which Pune approach control released it for local coordination. The pilots were instructed to descend under visual meteorological conditions, with the timing left to their discretion.
During the final phase of the approach, the crew enquired about wind conditions and visibility and were informed that winds were calm and visibility was around 3,000 metres. Shortly thereafter, the pilots reported they were on final approach for runway 11 but could not see the runway, forcing them to abort the landing and execute a go-around.
Following this, air traffic control requested a position update. The pilots again confirmed they were on final approach for runway 11. When asked about visual contact with the runway, they initially stated, "Runway is currently not in sight, will call when runway is in sight." A few seconds later, they reported that the runway was visible, according to the ministry's statement.
"The aircraft was cleared to land on runway 11 at 08:43 IST; however, no readback of the landing clearance was received," the ministry said. At 8:44 a.m., controllers observed fire near the threshold of runway 11, prompting the immediate deployment of emergency response teams. The wreckage of the Learjet was later found on the left side of the runway, abeam the threshold.
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has taken over the probe. Its director general is travelling to Baramati to oversee evidence collection, and the government has said further findings will be shared as the technical investigation progresses.
The crash has also brought scrutiny on the operator, VSR Ventures, which operates a fleet of 17 aircraft. The ministry noted that another Learjet 45 owned by the same company, registered as VT-DBL, was involved in a separate landing accident at Mumbai airport on September 14, 2023.
The Learjet 45, operated by Delhi-based VSR Ventures Pvt Ltd, crashed near the Baramati airfield shortly after 8:30 a.m. amid dense morning fog. On board were Ajit Pawar, his personal security officer Vidip Jadhav, pilot Captain Sumit Kapur, co-pilot Captain Shambhavi Pathak, and flight attendant Pinky Mali. During the second approach, the aircraft reportedly lost stability moments before touchdown and crashed around 100 feet short of the runway.
CCTV footage shows the aircraft descending sharply, overturning, and striking the ground before erupting into a massive explosion. Eyewitnesses reported multiple blasts, flames, and thick black smoke, with debris scattered across nearby homes and fields. Investigators later recovered only the tail section and one engine largely intact.
Sources familiar with the cockpit voice recordings said Captain Pathak's final audible words were "Oh sht... oh sht," suggesting a sudden and critical loss of control. Aviation officials said dense fog and low visibility were significant factors, while technical failure and human error are also being examined.
Union aviation minister K. Ram Mohan Naidu confirmed poor visibility at the time of the crash. He and minister of state for civil aviation Murlidhar Mohol travelled to Pune to attend Pawar's last rites.
Ajit Pawar was travelling to Baramati to address a public rally ahead of the Maharashtra panchayat elections. His death has triggered statewide mourning and raised urgent questions about flight safety protocols at regional airports during low-visibility conditions. The AAIB is expected to release a detailed report in the coming weeks.
