Who were Ajit Pawar plane's pilots flying Maharashtra Deputy CM's last flight?

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar took his last flight from Mumbai. The 8th Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, along with Eknath Shinde under Devendra Fadnavis-led government, was onboard Learjet 45 aircraft. The senior NCP leader took off on a private charter flight with 5 others on Wednesday morning when his plane crash landed near Baramati airstrip, few minutes before planned landing. The aircraft bearing number “VTSSKLJ45” was operated by VSR Ventures Pvt Ltd.

The plane departed from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport at 8:11 AM on Wednesday. According to Air Traffic Control (ATC), the aircraft “R120/109 Miles from Mumbai” and was scheduled to reach Baramati.

In addition to the 66-year-old Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader, one Personal Security Officer (PSO), one attendant and two pilots were onboard, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) confirmed. All of them died in the fatal crash who were identified as Vidip Jadhav, Pinki Mali and Sumit Kapoor. The crew included Captain Sahil Madan the Pilot-in-Command (PIC) and the First Officer (FO).

Over the mishap at Baramati airport, the aviation regulator said, “As per initial information, all five persons onboard the aircraft have succumbed to the injuries sustained in the crash." Visuals from the site show plane gutted by fire following the crash-landing. The plane was attempting a second approach to Baramati Airport when it crashed, according to flight tracking website Flightradar24.

Ajit Pawar was scheduled to attend a public rally in his home town ahead of the Zilla Parishad Elections. The longest-serving Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra non-consecutively is survived by his wife, Sunetra Pawar and two sons, Jay and Parth Pawar.