DGCA Confirms No Survivors in Ajit Pawar Plane Crash in Baramati
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued a grim statement confirming that no person on board has survived the plane crash involving Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar. The tragic incident occurred shortly after the aircraft went down in Baramati, sending shockwaves across the political landscape of Maharashtra.
Details of the Fatal Crash
According to official information released by the DGCA, Ajit Pawar was traveling with two additional personnel – one Personal Security Officer (PSO) and one attendant – along with two crew members, comprising the Pilot-in-Command (PIC) and First Officer (FO). The aircraft, which had a seating capacity of six individuals including the pilot, was attempting to land at Baramati airport when the catastrophic crash occurred.
Sources familiar with the incident revealed that the plane was on its final approach to Baramati airport when it met with disaster. An eyewitness who owns a shop adjacent to the airport provided chilling details to The Indian Express, stating, "The aircraft was making a considerable amount of noise during its landing attempt, which immediately drew my attention. It appeared to be trying to land properly but subsequently slid off the runway, followed by a massive explosion." The witness further reported that rescue personnel extracted four to five bodies from the wreckage of the aircraft.
Political Context and Family Response
Ajit Pawar was en route from Mumbai to Pune to participate in four campaign rallies for the ongoing Zilla Parishad elections in Maharashtra. These local body elections hold significant political importance, with voting scheduled for February 5 across 12 Zilla Parishads and 125 Panchayat Samitis, and vote counting set for February 7.
At the time of the tragedy, the Pawar family was gathered in Delhi at the residence of Nationalist Congress Party patriarch Sharad Pawar to attend the first day of the Budget session of Parliament. Upon receiving news of the crash, prominent family members including Sharad Pawar, his daughter Supriya Sule, and Ajit Pawar's wife Sunetra Pawar immediately made arrangements to depart for Baramati to be at the crash site.
Investigation and Immediate Aftermath
The DGCA has emphasized that their statement regarding no survivors is based on preliminary information gathered from the crash site. Aviation authorities have initiated a comprehensive investigation to determine the exact cause of the accident, which will examine multiple factors including weather conditions, aircraft maintenance records, pilot communications, and airport infrastructure.
This tragic incident has not only created a void in Maharashtra's political leadership but has also raised serious questions about aviation safety protocols for VIP travel. The crash site in Baramati has been cordoned off as rescue operations transition into recovery efforts, with forensic teams expected to conduct detailed examinations of the wreckage.
The Maharashtra government has declared a period of mourning, with Chief Minister Eknath Shinde expressing profound grief over the loss of his deputy and other individuals onboard the ill-fated aircraft. Political activities across the state have been temporarily suspended as the community comes to terms with this devastating development.
