PUNE: Newly released CCTV visuals show a devastating sequence of events as the chartered aircraft carrying Maharashtra deputy chief minister and NCP chief Ajit Pawar exploded while attempting an emergency landing at Baramati airport on Wednesday morning.
The footage captures a huge ball of fire, followed by smoke and successive smaller explosions eyewitnesses said.
The Learjet 45 (registration VT-SSK), operated by VSR, crashed at around 8:45 am. Pawar, 66, along with his personal security officer, an attendant, and two crew members — the pilot-in-command and first officer — were all killed.
Eyewitnesses recount chaos and fire
“I saw it with my own eyes. When the plane was descending, it looked like it would crash — and it did. Soon after, it exploded,” a local villager told ANI.
“When we rushed to the spot, the aircraft was completely engulfed in flames. There were four to five more explosions. People tried to pull the passengers out, but the fire was too intense,” the eyewitness added. “It was flying towards the runway but fell about 100 feet short. Ajit Pawar was on board — it is extremely painful to witness.”
Visuals from the crash site show mangled wreckage and thick smoke, as villagers and emergency responders gathered in vain. Pawar had been en route to Baramati to attend a public rally for the Zilla Parishad elections, having been in Mumbai the previous day for a meeting of the Maharashtra Cabinet Committee on Infrastructure chaired by CM Devendra Fadnavis.
National leaders express grief
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and union home minister Amit Shah contacted CM Fadnavis to offer condolences. Pawar’s cousin and Baramati MP Supriya Sule left for Maharashtra following the incident. Condolences also poured in from across the political spectrum. Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said he was “deeply shocked and pained” by Pawar’s untimely demise, recalling his long commitment to Maharashtra’s development.
Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs Priyanka Chaturvedi and Arvind Sawant described Pawar as a “committed and bold leader” whose work had left a lasting impact on Baramati.
Probe underway
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) have launched a detailed probe. Investigators will retrieve the flight recorder, Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System (EGPWS), Digital Engine Electronic System (DEES), airframe and engine logbooks, and other key documents.
CCTV footage, radar data, ATC tapes, and statements from witnesses will also be analysed to determine the cause of the crash.
State mourning declared
Following Pawar’s death, CM Fadnavis announced three days of state mourning from January 28 to January 30. The national flag will fly at half-mast across government buildings, all state government offices will remain closed, and official entertainment programs have been cancelled. Fadnavis said the final rites will be conducted in consultation with the family.
Ajit Pawar, nephew of NCP founder Sharad Pawar and cousin of MP Supriya Sule, was the longest-serving Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, holding the post six times across governments led by Prithviraj Chavan, Devendra Fadnavis, Uddhav Thackeray, and Eknath Shinde.
He is survived by his wife Sunetra Pawar and two sons, Jay and Parth Pawar.
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