A chilling CCTV footage has emerged, revealing the precise details of the tragic crash involving Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar's chartered aircraft at Baramati Airport. The video, captured from a highway near the airport in Maharashtra's Baramati, shows the devastating moment the plane exploded.
The Fateful Moment Captured on Camera
At exactly 8:46:02 on Wednesday morning, the CCTV feed recorded a massive fireball accompanied by a thick cloud of smoke. This video is of the Learjet 45 aircraft carrying Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and four others that had just crashed. The 66-year-old senior politician, Ajit Pawar, tragically died in that horrific crash. The highway camera unmistakably caught the moment his private charter plane exploded upon impact.
Flight Details and Official Statement
The private charter plane, operated by VSR Ventures Pvt. Ltd, had departed from Mumbai at 8:10 AM and crashed while attempting to land at Baramati Airport. A government statement on the incident confirmed: "On 28.01.2026, M/s VSR Ventures Pvt. Ltd, Learjet 45 aircraft, with registration VT-SSK was involved in an air accident at Baramati while operating a flight for sector 'Mumbai-Baramati'. There were a total of 05 persons on board including 02 crew members. The passengers included Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra Shri Ajit Pawar. All the occupants of the aircraft received fatal injuries."
Flight Data and Eyewitness Accounts
Data from Flightradar24 indicated that the plane disappeared from radar at 8:45 AM. According to reports, the aircraft was attempting a second landing when it met with the fatal accident. An eyewitness described the plane crashing approximately 100 feet before reaching the runway. The Learjet 45, capable of carrying up to nine passengers, reportedly stopped broadcasting at 8:34 AM, resumed transmission minutes later, and then went silent again at 8:43 AM, as per an NDTV report. The location where the jet stopped signaling for the second time was around 20 kilometers from its intended landing airport.
Profile of Ajit Pawar
Born in 1959, Ajit Anantrao Pawar was a senior politician and prominent leader in Maharashtra. He served as the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra multiple times throughout his political career. Originally a senior leader from the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), Pawar made headlines in 2023 when he defected from the NCP faction led by his uncle, veteran leader Sharad Pawar, to align with the BJP-Shiv Sena government.
AAIB Takes Over Investigation
The Ministry of Civil Aviation announced on Wednesday that an Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) team has been dispatched to Maharashtra's Baramati to investigate the plane crash that claimed five lives, including Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and crew members. The government statement elaborated: "AAIB has taken over the investigation, DG, AAIB is reaching the accident site for investigation. Further details of the same as and when available will be shared."
Comprehensive Investigation Planned
A special team from the AAIB will conduct a thorough investigation into the aircraft crash. During their probe, the investigation team plans to retrieve crucial evidence including the flight recorder, Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System (EGPWS), and Digital Engine Electronic System (DEES). These components are expected to provide vital information about the aircraft's final moments and help determine the cause of this tragic accident.
