Ajit Pawar plane crash: A private plane carrying Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar crashed while landing at Baramati airport on Wednesday morning, killing all five people on board. The accident occurred at 8:44 am, once again raising serious concerns about aviation safety.
Ajit Pawar left Mumbai at 8:10 am to attend a public meeting in Baramati. The aircraft crashed while attempting to land at Baramati airport, causing an explosion and fire upon impact with the ground. All five people died in the accident. In today’s DNA episode, Zee News Managing Editor Rahul Sinha analyzes the plane and other details related to the tragic death of Ajit Pawar:
Watch the DNA episode here:
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Ajit Pawar, Captain Sumit Kapoor, Captain Shambhavi Pathak, flight attendant Pinky Mali and Ajit Pawar’s security officer Vidip Jadhav were on board the plane. No one survived.
What happened at Baramati airport?
CCTV footage from before the crash shows the plane tilting in the air, suggesting it went out of control before landing. The last image before the crash shows the plane struggling moments before impact.
Visuals after the accident showed that the aircraft fell about 600 meters short of the runway, and crashed near the runway rather than on it.
According to initial reports, visibility remained low in the area due to dense fog on Wednesday morning. The pilots initially attempted to land on Runway 11, but aborted the landing when the runway was not visible.
The plane climbed again and arrived for the second time. The pilots then reported that the runway was visible and they were given permission to land. Contact with the aircraft was lost at approximately 8:43 am. A few seconds later the plane crashed before reaching the runway.
Eyewitnesses said that immediately after the plane hit the ground, a loud explosion was heard, followed by flames and thick smoke.
aviation security
International aviation reports also show that the survival rate in air accidents is about 95 percent, and even in serious accidents, the survival rate can be about 80 percent. Despite these figures, all residents died as a result of the Baramati accident.
Aircraft details and past records
Ajit Pawar was traveling in Bombardier Aerospace Learjet-45. The aircraft is designed to carry two pilots as well as nine passengers and crew members. It has a maximum range of about 3,700 kilometers, a cruising speed of about 900 kilometers per hour and a maximum operating altitude of 51,000 feet. The Learjet-45 is commonly used as a private jet and air ambulance.
However, the safety history of the aircraft model has been troubled. Since 1998, the Learjet-45 has been involved in eight major accidents worldwide, resulting in 29 deaths.
The aircraft involved in the Baramati crash was operated by Delhi-based VSR Ventures Pvt Ltd. In September 2023, a Learjet-45 operated by the same company was involved in an accident at Mumbai airport when it skidded off the runway during heavy rain and broke into two parts. There were no casualties in that incident.
Questions around Baramati Airport
The accident has drawn renewed attention to Baramati Airport, which is often referred to as the “Graveyard for Planes” due to the frequency of aviation accidents in the area.
The aircraft crashed about 600 meters from the runway. According to the report, witnesses initially believed it was another training aircraft crash, as such incidents are common in the region.
Baramati Airport is a small regional airfield located in Pune district of Maharashtra. It is mainly used for pilot training and private or chartered flights. In recent years, it has emerged as a hotspot for aviation accidents.
Several factors contribute to security concerns at airports:
Uncontrolled airspace: Baramati does not have round-the-clock modern air traffic control or radar systems like major airports. Air traffic often depends on coordination between pilots.
Pressure on training centres: Flying schools such as Redbird Flight Training Academy and Carver Aviation operate in the region, resulting in heavy congestion at the airfield with trainee pilots.
Weather and Visibility: The plateau region experiences dense fog during winter, causing a sudden drop in visibility. Poor visibility is believed to be a major factor in Wednesday’s accident.
Lack of advanced landing system: The airport does not have special landing technology that allows aircraft to land safely in foggy conditions even during VVIP activities.
History of accidents in Baramati
According to the Aviation Safety Network and other sources, 8 to 10 aviation accidents have been observed at Baramati airstrip. Notable events include:
9 August 2025: The front wheel of a training aircraft separated during landing.
22 October 2023: A training aircraft made an emergency landing near Baramati and overturned.
19 October 2023: A training plane crashed while taking off.
25th July 2022: A training aircraft crashes in mid-flight.
7 June 2022: A training aircraft made a hard landing.
5 February 2019: A training aircraft crashes on the road near Baramati.
14 March 2008: An aircraft crashed into the Nira River south of the airport.
Small aircraft safety concerns
According to the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), 112 accidents and 128 serious incidents were investigated in India between July 2012 and November 2025. Reports suggest that every year 10 to 15 small aircraft crash in the country.
Globally, the fatal accident rate of small aircraft used in general aviation and private operations is 10 to 50 times higher than that of commercial airlines.
Major reasons cited include:
The aging fleet, including many chartered and training aircraft, is 20-30 years old. The plane used by Ajit Pawar was 16 years old.
Poor maintenance practices, including use of unauthorized engineers and recycled spare parts.
Deficiencies in safety audits and delays in inspection of operator logbooks.
Reports also alleged that after the training aircraft crash near Baramati in October 2023, the black box was tampered with, raising concerns over regulatory enforcement.
official investigation
AAIB has started a formal investigation. The investigation will include site inspections, black box analysis, weather data, maintenance records and witness statements. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is also conducting its review, while the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) is monitoring the process.
NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) chief and Ajit Pawar’s uncle Sharad Pawar said the Baramati incident was an accident and urged that it should not be politicized. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis also rejected claims of a conspiracy and called for patience until the investigation is completed.
Ajit Pawar’s political legacy
Ajit Pawar was active in Maharashtra politics for 44 years from 1982. He became a Member of Parliament from Baramati in 1991 and was Deputy Chief Minister six times. After parting ways with Sharad Pawar in July 2023, she retained the NCP election symbol and strengthened her political influence through consecutive elections.
With strong support among Maratha voters and influence in the cooperative sector, he was considered a major force in western Maharashtra. His death has raised questions about the future leadership of his party.
In his family, his wife Sunetra Pawar, who is a Rajya Sabha member since 2024, and his elder son Parth Pawar, who contested the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, are active in politics. Senior leaders like Praful Patel, Sunil Tatkare, Dhananjay Munde and Chhagan Bhujbal are also seen as potential future faces of the party, although questions remain over unity and leadership.
