Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar killed in Baramati Learjet crash; DGCA, AAIB begin probe

Crash during landing attempt at Baramati

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar died on Wednesday, 28 January 2026, after a Learjet 45XR charter aircraft crashed while trying to land at Baramati Airport in Pune district. Reports said the jet was travelling from Mumbai to Baramati and went down close to the runway area, triggering a fire and leaving no survivors among the five people on board.

The incident immediately drew a major response from aviation authorities and the state administration, with senior leaders offering tributes and arrangements beginning for public homage and last rites. The state also announced official mourning in the wake of the death of one of its top elected leaders.

Poor visibility, go-around and second approach

The Civil Aviation Minister said preliminary information indicated poor visibility at the time of the landing attempt. According to the ministry’s account, the aircraft initially could not spot the runway and carried out a go-around. On the second approach, the crew reported the runway in sight and was cleared to land, but soon after, flames were seen near the runway threshold.

In a separate report, a senior pilot familiar with tabletop-style runways flagged that the final phase of landing can be highly sensitive to wind shifts, visibility challenges and approach stability. The report also noted that Baramati does not have an Instrument Landing System (ILS), increasing reliance on visual and manual landing techniques.

Probe launched by DGCA and AAIB

Teams from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) reached the site to begin a formal investigation. Authorities are expected to review communication logs, weather conditions, aircraft performance data and runway infrastructure to establish the sequence of events and the cause.

Investigators will also assess operational factors such as approach speed, runway environment and visibility at the time, alongside any technical issues. Officials have indicated that conclusions will follow after evidence collection and analysis.

What happens next

• Forensic and technical teams will document wreckage, runway marks and any CCTV footage.
• Investigators will verify flight planning, crew actions and weather reports for the morning of 28 January 2026.
• A preliminary update is likely once basic data is compiled, but a full report can take months.