Maharashtra Dy CM Ajit Pawar, 4 others killed in Baramati plane crash

A Learjet 45 (VT-SSK) aircraft, operated by VSR, crash-landed at Baramati airport early today. There were five persons on board, including Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and four others were killed when a private aircraft crashed while landing at Baramati airport on Wednesday morning, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said.

 

“A Learjet 45 (VT-SSK) aircraft, operated by VSR, crash-landed at Baramati airport early today. There were five persons on board, including Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Shri Ajit Pawar, along with two other personnel — one personal security officer and one attendant — and two crew members, comprising the pilot-in-command and the first officer,” the regulator said in a statement.

 

The DGCA confirmed that none of the five occupants survived the crash.

 

 

VSR refers to VSR Ventures Private Limited, a Delhi-based non-scheduled charter operator. 

Baramati is an "uncontrolled" airfield, meaning it does not have a full-fledged Air Traffic Control (ATC) tower issuing mandatory clearances. Instead, traffic information is relayed by instructors or pilots from local flying training organisations, the DGCA stated.

 

The following information was provided by the individual who was manning the ATC at Baramati airport to the DGCA. As per this person, the aircraft first established contact at 8:18 am. The next communication occurred when the aircraft was 30 nautical miles from Baramati, after being released by "Pune Approach Control", which manages aircraft in that airspace. The crew was advised to descend under "visual Meteorological conditions", meaning they were expected to maintain visual reference with the ground rather than rely solely on instruments, at their own discretion.

 

The flight crew asked the person manning the Baramati ATC about wind conditions and visibility and were informed that winds were calm and visibility was around 3,000 metres. The aircraft later reported that it was on final approach to Runway 11, which refers to the last phase of landing when the aircraft is aligned with the runway. However, the crew stated that the runway was not in sight and initiated a go-around, a standard safety manoeuvre in which a landing is aborted and the aircraft climbs to attempt another approach. 

 

After the go-around, the flight crew again reported being on final approach for Runway 11. They were asked to report once the runway was visible. Initially, the crew said the runway was not in sight, but a few seconds later confirmed that they could see it.

 

At 8:43 am, the aircraft was cleared to land on Runway 11, although the crew did not acknowledge or repeat back the landing clearance, which is normally required to confirm understanding. At 8:44 am, personnel at the airfield observed flames near the threshold of Runway 11, which is the beginning portion of the runway used for landing. Emergency services immediately rushed to the site. The aircraft wreckage was found on the left side of the runway, adjacent to the threshold of Runway 11.

 

The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau has taken over the investigation into the crash. The Director General of the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) was proceeding to the accident site, the DGCA said, adding that further details will be shared as and when they become available.

 

The DGCA said that the aircraft involved in the crash was flown by a pilot-in-command who held an "Airline Transport Pilot Licence", the highest level of pilot certification, and had more than 15,000 hours of flying experience. His last medical examination was conducted on November 19, 2025 and was valid until May 19, 2026. His most recent "instrument rating and pilot proficiency check" -- periodic evaluations that assess a pilot’s ability to fly in poor visibility and handle emergencies -- was completed on August 18, 2025. 

 

According to the DGCA, the co-pilot held a commercial pilot licence and had approximately 1,500 hours of flying experience. His last medical examination was on July 12, 2025, valid until July 24, 2026, and his last instrument rating and proficiency check was conducted on July 22, 2025.

 

The DGCA last conducted a regulatory audit of VSR Ventures in February 2025. No "level-1" findings were issued, meaning no serious safety violations were identified during that audit, the DGCA mentioned. Earlier, on September 14, 2023, another Learjet 45 operated by the company (with registration number VT-DBL) was involved in an accident during landing at Mumbai airport. That incident is currently under investigation by the AAIB, the DGCA said.

 

VSR Ventures' initial air operator permit -- the regulatory approval required to conduct commercial flight operations -- was issued on April 21, 2014, and was last renewed on April 3, 2023. The permit is valid until April 20, 2028. The operator has a fleet of 17 aircraft, including seven Learjet 45 aircraft (one of which was involved in this accident), five Embraer 135BJ aircraft, four King Air B200 aircraft, and one Pilatus PC-12 aircraft, the DGCA stated.

 

The Learjet 45 is a twin-engine midsize business jet developed by Learjet and later produced by Bombardier Aerospace, with first deliveries in 1998. The aircraft is widely used for corporate, charter and VIP transport, and typically seats eight passengers.

 

Over the past three decades, several senior Indian politicians have died in aircraft and helicopter accidents.

 

Dorjee Khandu, then chief minister of Arunachal Pradesh, was killed on April 30, 2011, when the helicopter carrying him crashed in West Kameng district while flying from Tawang to Itanagar.

 

Earlier, Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, then chief minister of Andhra Pradesh, died on September 2, 2009, after his Bell 430 helicopter crashed in the Nallamala forest during a flight affected by adverse weather conditions.

 

On March 31, 2005, Om Prakash Jindal, Haryana’s then power minister, and Surender Singh, the state’s agriculture minister, were killed when their helicopter crashed near Saharanpur in Uttar Pradesh.

 

Cyprian Sangma, Meghalaya’s rural development minister, died in a helicopter crash near Barapani Lake on September 22, 2004. On March 3, 2002, G M C Balayogi, then Speaker of the Lok Sabha, was killed in a helicopter crash in Andhra Pradesh.

 

Going further back, senior Congress leader and former Union minister Madhavrao Scindia died on September 30, 2001, when a private aircraft carrying him to Kanpur crashed in bad weather. On May 8, 2001, Dera Natung, Arunachal Pradesh’s education minister, was killed in a Pawan Hans helicopter crash in West Kameng district.