The nation is in shock following a fatal aircraft disaster in Baramati on Wednesday morning, where Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Ajit Pawar was confirmed dead. The senior leader was among five individuals on board the aircraft when it crash-landed and erupted into flames at approximately 9:12 AM.

The aircraft, a Learjet 60 with the registration VT-SSK, had departed from Mumbai at 8:10 AM. According to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the flight encountered severe technical trouble during its final approach to the Baramati runway. Tragically, the DGCA confirmed that there were no survivors. The casualties include the Deputy Chief Minister, two additional personnel from his team, and two crew members.

Social media footage from the scene shows the wreckage completely engulfed in fire, with emergency services struggling to contain the blaze. The impact was so severe that airport operations in Baramati were immediately suspended, leading to significant delays for all scheduled arriving and departing flights.

Ajit Pawar was traveling to Baramati to attend a series of high-profile political events scheduled for the day. Upon hearing the news, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reportedly contacted Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to express his condolences and assess the situation. In a mark of respect and mourning, CM Fadnavis has cancelled his scheduled political rally in the Konkan region.

The DGCA has launched a formal investigation to determine the exact cause of the crash, specifically looking into potential engine failure or landing gear issues during the final descent. Formal briefings from state authorities are expected once rescue operations conclude and the final verification of all remains is completed.

Key Highlights:

• Fatal Crash: Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar and four others died after their Learjet VT-SSK crashed in Baramati on Wednesday morning.
• No Survivors: The DGCA confirmed that all five people on board, including two crew members and two aides, perished in the accident.
• Flight Timeline: The aircraft took off from Mumbai at 8:10 AM and Air Traffic Control was alerted to the crash at 9:12 AM during the final approach.
• High-Level Response: Prime Minister Modi reached out to CM Fadnavis, who has cancelled his upcoming public engagements following the tragedy.