On January 28, 2026, Ajit Pawar, the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, perished in a tragic accident when his private plane was trying to land at Baramati Airport in Pune district, Maharashtra.
Pawar, an elder member of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), was on a Learjet 45 that had been rented out from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai (airport code BJK). The flight’s registration number is VT-SSK. The Learjet was flown by VSR Aviation, and it was scheduled to land at Baramati at the beginning of the workday when Pawar returned to his home town for a public rally related to the Zilla Parishad elections.
Multiple witnesses who saw the accident have stated that the airplane went off the runway before hitting the ground near the end of runway 11 and exploded into flames. First responders arrived on the scene within just a couple of minutes of the crash, but by that point, the Learjet had already caught fire and was completely destroyed. Pawar was one of four individuals who were killed in the crash.
Read more- Glitchy Glam: The Bold New Beauty Trend Taking 2026 by Storm
Investigation Launched: What Officials Are Saying about Ajit Pawar
Following the incident, aviation authorities acted quickly to carry out a formal investigation into the factors determining how this occurred at Baramati Airport. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) are responsible for conducting a detailed inquiry into the accident; both agencies have dispatched staff on-site to gather evidence and carry out technical analysis.
To date, information available is only at the preliminary stage. However, there is confirmation from authorities that the aircraft was trying to make a landing when it crashed on unexplained conditions, with air traffic control providing exact visibility and approach information prior to the specific landing attempt, thus allowing investigators the ability to determine potential causes surrounding the accident.
A key element will be, according to experts in the aviation field, that no definitive information has thus far been certainly released concerning this accident. Outlining the primary contributor(s) to such accidents usually requires careful analysis of the Flight Data Recorders (FDR) and Weather data and Runway Environment and Aircraft Performance throughout the life of that aircraft, and it continues to be anticipated that this analysis will be fundamental to ongoing investigations by the DGCA and AAIB.
Political Shock and Mourning in Maharashtra
The death of Ajit Pawar sent shockwaves throughout Maharashtra’s and the country’s political landscape. He was a major political figure in the state, serving many terms as Deputy Chief Minister and playing a key role in both state government and coalition politics. His sudden death has left a vacuum in leadership and a huge outpouring of grief from political leaders and the general public.
In the immediate aftermath of the incident, the State of Maharashtra declared three days of mourning, during which government offices and schools will be closed, and the national flag was to be flown at half mast in honour of Mr Pawar. High profile politicians, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and leaders from other political parties, offered their condolences and recognised Mr Pawar’s contributions to public life.
The political consequences will likely be substantial, particularly given local elections taking place at the time and the fact that the coalition dynamics are vulnerable to the effects of changes in leadership. His absence will have an impact on both governance and electoral strategies in the coming weeks. As investigations continue and more details emerge, the state and nation mourn the passing of a significant public servant in an accident that will go down in history as one of the most tragic moments in Indian political history. click here for the source
Read more- Tragic Shark Attack in Sydney Harbour: The Death of 12-Year-Old Nico Antic
