The mortal remains of the late Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and senior NCP leader Ajit Pawar were taken to the Vidya Pratishthan ground in Baramati, where large crowds are expected to gather to pay their final respects.
Visuals from Baramati Medical College showed members of the Pawar family grieving uncontrollably as they arrived to bid farewell to their beloved leader. Ajit Pawar's wife Sunetra Pawar and his cousin Supriya Pawar were seen in tears, with Supriya Pawar heard saying, "Sabka ladla chala gaya."
Meanwhile, on an urgent request from the Maharashtra government, the Indian Air Force (IAF) swiftly deployed a team of Air Traffic Control (ATC) personnel along with essential technical equipment from Air Force Station Lohegaon to Baramati Airport on Wednesday.
Officials said the IAF's timely intervention would help stabilise airport operations and reinforce safety measures at Baramati Airport. The team has been tasked with establishing emergency Air Traffic Control services to ensure the safe and efficient management of air operations. The temporary setup includes critical communication systems and other essential facilities required for air traffic coordination.
The tragic plane crash occurred during a landing attempt near Baramati earlier in the day. Initial reports suggested that all five occupants had sustained serious injuries; however, later confirmation clarified that there were no survivors.
VIDEO | Baramati: A huge crowd gathered at Vidya Pratishthan to pay their last respects to Maharashtra Deputy CM and NCP leader Ajit Pawar, who died in plane crash earlier today.#ajitpawarpassedaway
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) January 28, 2026
(Full video available on PTI Videos - https://t.co/n147TvrpG7) pic.twitter.com/SCjQ1YuFSo
Amid calls for a probe, VK Singh - the owner of the Delhi-based private company - has asserted that the aircraft was "very well maintained" and there was "absolutely no problem" with its condition.
"There was no technical failure in the aircraft," Singh said.
The company operated seven Learjets. When asked if the company was planning to ground the remaining fleet, Singh gave a categorical no.
"Why should I ground them? They are all fit aircraft. Why should I ground them? That's not my decision," he said.
Singh also highlighted that Learjet is considered a "very, very dependable aircraft" worldwide. "So, why should we ground them?"
Learjet - creation of US inventor Bill Lear - was modelled on a Swiss fighter aircraft and allows up to eight people. The brand was acquired by Canadian manufacturer Bombardier in 1990. Once shorthand for the luxury jet travel of the super rich - production of the Learjet ended in 2021 after Bombardier decided to focus on its Global and Challenger series.
According to an official occurrence report, the aircraft involved was a Learjet 45 bearing registration number VT-SSK, operated by VSR. There were five occupants on board, including the pilot-in-command, a first officer, and three passengers. Among the passengers was Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who was travelling with his personal security officer and an attendant.
Ajit Pawar was scheduled to address a public rally in Baramati at around 11 am in connection with the upcoming Zilla Parishad elections. News of the crash sent shockwaves across the political landscape, with senior leaders and party workers expressing grief and disbelief as details of the incident continued to emerge.
