Sunetra Pawar Saw Husband Ajit Pawar's Fatal Crash on Video Call from Site
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar among five dead as private aircraft crashes during morning flight.
Maharashtra was left in shock on January 28 as Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar died in a plane crash near Baramati Airport. Sunetra Pawar, his wife, was in Delhi when she received the news and initially thought it was a cruel prank. Minutes later, a live video call from the crash site confirmed her worst fears, showing the burning wreckage of the Learjet aircraft. Devastated, she immediately rushed to Baramati.
The aircraft, a Learjet operated by a Delhi-based private firm, had departed Mumbai at 8:10 am to cover four political rallies in Pune district for the upcoming zilla parishad elections. Eyewitnesses reported that the plane appeared unstable while descending around 8:46 am and crashed near the runway at approximately 8:50 am, bursting into flames on impact. Airport staff and emergency personnel rushed to the site, but no one survived.
All five onboard were killed, including Ajit Pawar, his personal security officer Videep Jadhav, flight attendant Pinky Mali, pilot Sumit Kapoor, and co-pilot Shambhavi Pathak. Flight tracking data showed the plane disappeared from radar shortly before the crash, and authorities confirmed that two of the victims were crew members while three were passengers.
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The incident sent shockwaves across Maharashtra and India. Pawar, a key figure in the state government and a veteran political strategist, was widely regarded for his grassroots connection and leadership in the cooperative sector. Condolences poured in from across the political spectrum, including President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who described the loss as untimely and deeply shocking.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis called Pawar’s death “unbelievable” and praised his decades-long contribution to state politics. Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde announced that a thorough investigation into the aircraft accident would be conducted. Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray also expressed sorrow, highlighting his personal friendship with Pawar despite political differences.
Authorities continue to investigate the crash to determine the cause. Aviation officials are reviewing flight logs, aircraft maintenance records, and eyewitness accounts to piece together the final moments before the tragic accident, while Maharashtra grapples with the sudden loss of one of its most influential leaders.
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