Ajit Pawar dies in plane crash - Who were on board the Learjet 45 that made 2nd failed landing attempt

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar met a tragic accident on Wednesday morning after his plane failed in to make a successful second landing attempt. The 8th Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra took his last flight from Mumbai. He was onboard a private charter plane Learjet 45 with five others.

Operated by VSR Ventures Pvt Ltd, the aircraft bearing number “VTSSKLJ45” departed from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport at 8:11 AM on 28. The 8th Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra was flying with Vidip Jadhav, attendant Pinki Mali and Personal Security Officer (PSO) Sumit Kapoor. Captain Sahil Madan was the Pilot-in-Command (PIC) of the tragic flight with crew members Captain Yash and Shambhavi Pathak, the First Officer (FO), onboard.

The aircraft was attempting a second approach to Baramati Airport when it crashed, flight tracking website Flightradar24 stated in a post on X.

The business jet that was carrying the 66-year-old Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) senior leader was 15 years old. The aircraft “R120/109 Miles from Mumbai” and was scheduled to reach Baramati, according to Air Traffic Control (ATC). The plane made an emergency landing and crash-landed at 8:45 am near Baramati airstrip, the planned destination.

As per Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), none of the passenger survived the tragedy. Visuals from the accident site show charred remains of the aircraft, engulfed by flames following the mishap. “As per initial information, all five persons onboard the aircraft have succumbed to the injuries sustained in the crash," the aviation regulator said.