Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar was killed on Wednesday morning after the charter aircraft carrying him crashed near Baramati airport in Pune district. The accident claimed five lives in total, including those of the pilot and a crew member, sending shockwaves across the state’s political landscape.

The nine-seater Learjet 45XR, operated by VSR Ventures Pvt Ltd, had departed from Mumbai around 8 am. Roughly 45 minutes into the journey, the aircraft lost control while attempting to land near Baramati. Moments after impact, the jet burst into flames. Images from the site showed wreckage strewn across the ground, with large sections of the aircraft reduced to twisted metal.

Pawar was travelling to Baramati to attend four scheduled public meetings in the run-up to the local body elections. His sudden death has left supporters and party workers stunned, triggering an outpouring of grief across Maharashtra.

Preliminary information suggests that poor weather may have contributed to the crash. Speaking to NDTV, Captain VK Singh of VSR Aviation said, “The accident appears to have happened due to low visibility, owing to current weather conditions. We don’t know more than this currently.”

Flight data reviewed by aviation trackers indicated that the aircraft was attempting a second approach at Baramati airport when the crash occurred. In aviation practice, this means the pilot had aborted an initial landing attempt, climbed again, and then tried to land a second time. Investigators are expected to examine this aspect closely as the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau prepares to launch a formal inquiry.

A Jet with a History of Accidents

Wednesday’s tragedy has also drawn attention to the aircraft’s past. The same Learjet model operated by VSR Ventures had been involved in a serious accident in September 2023 at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport.

On September 14, 2023, the Learjet 45XR was operating a non-scheduled passenger flight from Visakhapatnam to Mumbai, carrying six passengers. The flight was commanded by a Pilot-in-Command holding an Airline Transport Pilot Licence, assisted by a co-pilot with a Commercial Pilot Licence.

According to the Ministry of Civil Aviation, “The aircraft took off normally from Visakhapatnam and the flight en route was uneventful.”

As the aircraft prepared to land, weather conditions in Mumbai deteriorated. “The aircraft established contact with Mumbai tower and was instructed to prepare for landing. The aircraft was cleared to land on Runway 27 and was given landing clearance at 113109 UTC. At the time of landing, Mumbai Airport was experiencing heavy rains and reduced visibility. The winds reported to the crew at the time of landing clearance was ‘WIND 140 DEGREES 7 KTS RWY27,’” the report said.

Despite having visual contact with the runway, the jet drifted off course toward Apron C. Around 40 seconds after the autopilot was disengaged, cockpit alarms sounded, including a stick shaker and stall warning, followed by multiple Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System alerts.

The aircraft ultimately crash-landed near the intersection of Taxiways W and N. The impact split the fuselage into two sections and sent the jet skidding across an unpaved area before it came to rest near Taxiway U and stand C80. A fire broke out shortly after the crash, but all occupants were rescued. While passengers and the Pilot-in-Command were released after initial treatment, the co-pilot suffered serious injuries and required prolonged hospital care.

Extent of Damage

The aviation ministry’s inspection report described extensive destruction. The nose section was severely damaged, the wings were torn apart, and the forward fuselage separated from the central body. Both the nose landing gear and main landing gear were destroyed. Investigators also noted scorch marks beneath the right engine, although the engines and empennage remained attached.

Wider Safety Questions

The Learjet 45XR has previously been involved in fatal incidents internationally. In February 2021, a Learjet 45XR operated by the Mexican Air Force crashed shortly after take-off from Xalapa-El Lencero Airport, killing all six people on board.

Baramati airport, where Wednesday’s crash occurred, has also seen multiple aviation incidents over the years. The airport is frequently used for training flights, and reports indicate that two training aircraft accidents were recorded there in 2023. In August 2025, another training aircraft was involved in a landing accident, though no injuries were reported.

Operator Profile

VSR Ventures Pvt Ltd, also known as VSR Aviation, is a New Delhi-based non-scheduled air transport operator offering private charter services, medical evacuations, and aviation consultancy. The Learjet 45XR belongs to Bombardier Aviation’s super-light business jet category and was originally designed in the 1990s to compete with the Cessna Citation Excel.

The death of Ajit Pawar has dominated national attention, with online searches surging sharply within an hour of the news breaking. As investigators work to determine the exact cause of the crash, questions surrounding aircraft safety, weather conditions, and airport operations are expected to remain under intense scrutiny.