A routine political journey ended in catastrophe on Wednesday morning when a chartered Learjet 45 transporting Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar went down near Baramati Airport in Pune district. The aircraft, which departed Mumbai around 8 am, was attempting to land when it reportedly lost control, crashed, and burst into flames, triggering explosions witnessed by locals. All five occupants were killed, including Ajit Pawar, his personal security officer, two pilots, and other onboard staff. Emergency teams rushed to the site, but the intense fire left no chance of survival, turning a scheduled visit into a devastating tragedy for Maharashtra.
The pilots were identified as Captain Sumit Kapoor and Captain Shambhavi Pathak, both seasoned aviation professionals employed by VSR Aviation. Pathak, daughter of an Army officer, studied at Air Force Bal Bharati School before earning a Bachelor of Science in aeronautics, aviation, and aerospace studies from the University of Mumbai. She later completed advanced flight training at the New Zealand International Commercial Pilot Academy. Captain Kapoor, the senior pilot, led the cockpit during crucial stages such as take-off and landing, bringing long-standing experience and command familiarity to the ill-fated flight. He was respected across airlines for professionalism and calm judgment.
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VSR Aviation maintained that the aircraft was in sound condition and had no known technical issues before departure. Senior official VK Singh said the jet was properly maintained and fully airworthy to the company’s knowledge. According to preliminary inputs, adverse weather and extremely poor visibility may have contributed to the accident. Singh explained that pilots follow standard procedure by executing a missed approach when the runway is not visible, adding that the crew attempted a second landing. He noted Captain Kapoor had logged over 16,000 flying hours, while the co-pilot had accumulated around 1,500 hours during diverse commercial operations nationwide.
Besides Ajit Pawar and the two pilots, the flight carried the Deputy Chief Minister’s personal security officer and additional crew members, all of whom perished. Pawar, aged 66, was travelling to attend political engagements linked to upcoming local body elections. Aviation authorities have launched a comprehensive probe, with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation examining weather data, visibility, operational decisions, and technical records. Political leaders across parties, government officials, and citizens continue to express grief, describing the incident as one of Maharashtra’s most painful aviation disasters in recent memory. Condolences poured in from institutions nationwide and abroad over several days.