Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar Perishes in Tragic Baramati Plane Crash
In a devastating development that has sent shockwaves through Maharashtra's political landscape, Deputy Chief Minister and prominent Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Ajit Pawar passed away on Wednesday morning following a catastrophic plane crash near Baramati. The senior politician was traveling from Mumbai to Baramati to address four crucial public rallies ahead of the impending Zilla Parishad elections when the tragedy unfolded.
Flight Details and Immediate Aftermath
The ill-fated aircraft, identified as a Bombardier Aerospace Learjet 45 with registration VT SSK, departed from Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (CSIA) at approximately 8:10 AM. According to flight tracking data cited by PTI, the plane was airborne for about thirty-five minutes before disappearing from radar screens around 8:45 AM. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has officially confirmed that all five individuals aboard the flight, including Pawar, lost their lives, with no survivors reported from the crash site.
Authorities have promptly launched a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding this tragic accident. As the probe gains momentum, preliminary details have begun to emerge, painting a clearer picture of the events leading up to the disaster.
Preliminary Findings on Crash Causes
While the investigation remains in its early stages, initial reports point toward a combination of technical malfunctions and adverse weather conditions as potential contributing factors. News18 reported that the aircraft likely experienced technical issues, prompting the pilot to initiate an emergency landing procedure at Baramati airport.
Baramati airport manager Shivaji Taware informed Hindustan Times that during the attempted landing, the aircraft veered off the side of the runway, resulting in the catastrophic crash. PTI sources further indicated that the pilot had mentioned poor visibility prior to the emergency landing attempt. This aligns with observations of dense fog reported in the Pune district and Baramati region on Wednesday morning, suggesting weather may have played a significant role in the accident.
Flight path analysis reported by Indian Express revealed that the aircraft was making a loop to align with the runway at Baramati airport when the incident occurred.
Eyewitness Accounts of the Catastrophe
Eyewitnesses at the scene provided harrowing descriptions of the crash sequence. One witness told ANI that as the plane descended, it appeared destined for disaster. "When the aircraft descended, it seemed it would crash, and it did crash. It then exploded. There was a massive explosion," the eyewitness recounted.
The witness further described a series of subsequent explosions, stating, "After that, we rushed here and saw that the aircraft was on fire. There were four to five explosions in the aircraft again." Visuals from the crash site showed the mangled wreckage of the aircraft engulfed in flames, corroborating these accounts of multiple explosions following the initial impact.
The untimely demise of Ajit Pawar, often referred to as the rebel 'dada' of Maharashtra politics, represents a significant loss for the state's political establishment. As the investigation continues to unfold, authorities are working diligently to determine the precise chain of events that led to this tragic aviation disaster.
