The devastating plane crash near Baramati on Wednesday claimed the lives of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar along with four others, including Pilot Captain Sumit Kapoor, First Officer Captain Shambhavi Pathak, Personal Security Officer Vidit Jadhav, and cabin crew member Pinki Mali. The Learjet 45, operated by VSR Ventures Pvt Ltd, departed Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport at 8:11 a.m. and crashed approximately 45 minutes later during a landing attempt.

According to Air Traffic Control, the aircraft, weighing 9,752 kilograms, faced severe visibility issues due to dense smog near Baramati airport. While attempting to circle the area to identify a safe landing zone, the jet crashed and caught fire, leaving no survivors on board.

Captain Sumit Kapoor, the Pilot-in-Command, was a highly experienced aviator with nearly 16,000 flight hours, previously flying with Sahara, Jet Airways, and Jetline. A Delhi-based pilot, Kapoor was widely respected in the aviation industry, and his son is also a pilot with the same company. First Officer Shambhavi Pathak had around 1,500 flight hours and completed training on A320 jets after earning a BSc in aerospace science and technology. Her father held a senior military position in India.

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Cabin crew member Pinki Mali, a resident of Mumbai, was related to the NCP through her father, Shivkumar Mali. She had reportedly promised her father a meeting with Ajit Pawar upon arrival in Baramati. Personal Security Officer Vidit Jadhav also died in the crash, underscoring the tragedy that struck Pawar’s entourage.

Concerns have been raised regarding the aircraft manufacturer, as another aircraft from VSR Ventures was involved in a crash at Mumbai airport in October 2023, though that incident resulted in no casualties. An official investigation into the circumstances of Wednesday’s crash is underway, with authorities examining weather conditions, aircraft maintenance, and flight procedures.

The incident has sent shockwaves across Maharashtra, highlighting the risks of private charter operations and the sudden loss of a senior political leader along with a highly skilled aviation team. Tributes have poured in for the experienced crew and Ajit Pawar, marking a day of profound grief and mourning in the state.

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