Ramdas Athawale Demands Probe After Ajit Pawar Plane Crash Death
Athawale demands probe into Ajit Pawar's fatal Baramati crash.
Union Minister Ramdas Athawale mourned the death of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar as a "big loss" to the state and Mahayuti alliance. Speaking to NDTV on January 28, 2026, Athawale, who heads the Republican Party of India (Athawale), praised Pawar's contributions to Maharashtra's development. "Maharashtra has lost a big leader today... It's a massive loss for us. We are shaken," he said, demanding a thorough probe into the Learjet 45 crash owned by VSR Ventures.
The crash occurred near Baramati airport during Pawar's flight from Mumbai for zilla parishad election campaigns. Five people perished, including Pawar and two crew members. The jet took off at 8:10 AM IST, scheduled to land at 8:50 AM, but crashed at 8:44 AM on its second approach to Runway 11. Maharashtra's aviation history includes prior tragedies, amplifying calls for safety audits.
A Ministry of Civil Aviation preliminary report detailed the sequence: Crew queried calm winds and 3,000-meter visibility. On first approach, they reported no runway sight and initiated a go-around. Cleared to land at 8:44 AM without readback, ATC spotted flames at the runway threshold moments later. Emergency teams rushed in, but all aboard were confirmed dead.
Also Read: Ajit Pawar Joins List of Indian Leaders Lost to Aviation Tragedies
Athawale insisted the Maharashtra government lead the inquiry, stating, "We demand investigation as the incident is not good for us." Speculation swirls over potential causes like mechanical failure, pilot error, or weather, given the failed approaches. Pawar's death disrupts NCP dynamics and Mahayuti ahead of February 5 polls.
This tragedy revives memories of leaders like YS Rajasekhara Reddy and Madhavrao Scindia lost to aviation mishaps, underscoring risks in India's challenging skies. As probes unfold, political rivals unite in grief, with Sharad Pawar faction navigating leadership voids.
Also Read: Ajit Pawar’s Last Interview: Parties, Leaders Abandoning Ideologies
