Mumbai, January 28: A tragic aviation accident claimed the life of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and NCP President Ajit Pawar and four others on Wednesday morning, January 28. The chartered Bombardier Learjet 45 (registration VT-SSK), operated by VSR Ventures, crashed and burst into flames during a landing attempt at Baramati Airport at approximately 8:45 AM. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has confirmed that there were no survivors among the five individuals on board.

The Passengers and Crew Who Died in the Baramati Plane Crash

The flight was carrying three passengers and two crew members. Ajit Pawar Dies: List of Prominent Indians Who Died in Plane and Helicopter Crashes.

Alongside the 66-year-old Deputy Chief Minister, the victims have been identified as:

  • Vidip Jadhav: A close personal aide and attendant to the Deputy CM.

  • Pinky Mali: Flight Attendant

  • Captain Sumit Kapur: The Pilot-in-Command (PIC).

  • Shambhavi Pathak: The First Officer (SIC).

The group was travelling from Mumbai to Baramati, where Pawar was scheduled to address a series of public rallies for the upcoming Zilla Parishad elections.

The Aircraft: Bombardier Learjet 45

The aircraft involved in the crash was a Learjet 45XR, registered as VT-SSK. Owned by Delhi-based VSR Ventures Pvt. Ltd., the Learjet 45 is a popular mid-size business jet known for its speed and efficiency in corporate travel.

Capacity: Typically configured for 8-9 passengers.

Flight Profile: The aircraft took off from Mumbai at 8:10 AM and disappeared from radar roughly 35 minutes later.

Safety Record: While the Learjet 45 is a staple of global business aviation, the operator, VSR Ventures, had previously recorded a similar non-fatal runway excursion with another Learjet 45 (VT-DBL) at Mumbai Airport in September 2023.

Sequence of the Plane Crash

Witnesses at Baramati Airport described the aircraft as appearing "unstable" during its final approach. According to preliminary reports, the pilot may have aborted the first landing attempt due to poor visibility or technical issues. During the second attempt, the jet reportedly plunged nearly 100 feet short of the runway threshold, veered off the path, and exploded on impact. Local villagers and emergency responders rushed to the scene, but multiple secondary explosions and an intense fire prevented immediate rescue efforts. ‘Ajit Pawar Was a Leader of the People’: PM Narendra Modi Condoles Death of Maharashtra Deputy CM; Mamata Banerjee and Nitin Gadkari Also Mourn NCP President’s Demise.

Investigation and Aftermath

The DGCA and the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) have launched a high-level probe into the incident. Investigators have already reached the crash site to recover the Flight Data Recorder (Black Box) and Cockpit Voice Recorder to determine if the crash was caused by technical failure, pilot error, or weather conditions. In the wake of the tragedy, the Maharashtra government has declared three days of state mourning, with all official programs in Baramati suspended.

TruLY Score by LatestLY
Rating:4

TruLY Score 4 – Reliable | On a Trust Scale of 0-5 this article has scored 4 on LatestLY. The information comes from reputable news agencies like (IANS). While not an official source, it meets professional journalism standards and can be confidently shared with your friends and family, though some updates may follow.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 28, 2026 12:52 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).