By Khabar Rojana 
The aircraft carrying Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar was cleared to land at Baramati airfield on Wednesday morning (January 28, 2026) after multiple attempts, but failed to respond to air traffic control moments before crashing and bursting into flames near the runway.
According to officials, the Learjet 45 aircraft, operated by VSR Ventures Pvt. Ltd., was attempting to land amid poor visibility conditions. Baramati is an uncontrolled airfield, where traffic information is provided by instructors and pilots from local flying training organisations rather than a full-fledged ATC system.
As per Baramati Air Traffic Control records, the aircraft first made contact at 8:18 a.m. It later reported being 30 nautical miles inbound and was advised to descend under visual meteorological conditions at the pilot’s discretion. The crew enquired about wind and visibility and were informed that winds were calm and visibility was approximately 3,000 metres.
During the final approach to Runway 11, the crew reported that the runway was not in sight and initiated a go-around. After a second attempt, the crew informed authorities that the runway was visible and the aircraft was cleared to land at 8:43 a.m. However, no read-back or confirmation was received from the cockpit following the landing clearance.
Moments later, at around 8:44 a.m., flames were observed near the threshold of Runway 11. Emergency services rushed to the site, but all five people on board, including Ajit Pawar, lost their lives in the crash.
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has taken over the probe, and senior officials are inspecting the crash site to determine the cause of the accident. The Civil Aviation Ministry stated that the aircraft had undergone its last regulatory audit in February 2025, with no major safety issues reported.
The aircraft, manufactured in 2010, held valid airworthiness and registration certificates at the time of the crash. Further details are expected as the investigation progresses.
Shalu Shalu