Ajit Pawar, Maharashtra Deputy CM, Dies in Baramati Plane Crash.
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and senior NCP leader Ajit Pawar died on Wednesday when the aircraft he was traveling in crashed while attempting to land in Baramati, officials and sources confirmed.
Initial reports indicate that all five people on board the Learjet 45, registered VT-SSK and operated by VSR, were killed. The exact toll will be confirmed through an official statement.
The jet, described as a six-to-eight seater, had taken off from Mumbai at 8:10 am, with Air Traffic Control alerted about the crash at 9:12 am. Those on board included Ajit Pawar, two additional personnel, his personal security officer, an attendant, and the pilot and co-pilot.
Visuals from the crash site showed smoke rising from the wreckage, with rescue teams and ambulances rushing to the scene. Local residents were seen in distress as authorities recovered the bodies. Pawar’s remains were taken to Baramati Medical College. Parts of the aircraft were reported scattered around the crash site.
Preliminary assessments suggest the plane may have suffered technical issues. Sources noted that heavy fog in Baramati and the hilly terrain could have contributed to the crash. The recovery of the black box will be key in determining the precise cause.
Following the incident, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah contacted Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who canceled a planned rally in Konkan. NCP leaders, including Supriya Sule, rushed to Baramati.
Ajit Pawar had been scheduled to address district council election rallies in Baramati. Security agencies cordoned off the area, and aviation authorities have begun a detailed investigation into the circumstances surrounding the fatal crash.
Comments are closed.