The Learjet 45 private aircraft carrying Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar crashed near Baramati airport on Wednesday morning, killing all five people on board. The airport, where the jet was attempting to land, is an uncontrolled airfield, with flight traffic information provided by pilots from nearby flying schools, the government said.
In a statement, the Civil Aviation Ministry detailed the sequence of events leading up to the crash, noting a critical lapse — the pilot did not give a mandatory readback of landing clearance, a standard aviation safety protocol.
Sequence of events
At 8.18 am, the aircraft, registered as VT-SSK and owned by Delhi-based non-scheduled operator VSR Ventures Pvt Ltd, established contact with Baramati airport. The jet had departed Mumbai at 8.10 am. The Mumbai–Baramati distance is around 256 km, with a flight time of under 45 minutes.
The aircraft next contacted ground authorities when it was about 30 nautical miles (55.6 km) from Baramati. Control was then handed over from Pune to local air traffic coordination, and Captain Shambhavi Pathak was briefed about weather conditions and advised to land at her discretion.
The pilot enquired about wind speed and visibility, routine questions before landing. She was informed that visibility was around 3,000 metres — considered adequate for an attempted landing.
The aircraft reported its final approach to Runway 11, but shortly after, the pilot stated that the runway was “not in sight”. She was instructed to initiate a go-around, a standard operating procedure when a landing attempt is aborted.
Following the go-around, the aircraft again reported final approach. The pilot confirmed that the runway was visible and was cleared to land at 8.34 am. However, officials noted that the landing clearance was not read back by the pilot.
Aircraft goes silent
At 8.43 am, the aircraft stopped transmitting ADS-B (Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast) signals, which provide real-time data on an aircraft’s position, altitude, speed, and identity. The signals ceased approximately 20 km from Baramati airport, when the plane was reportedly flying at about 237 kmph and just over 1,000 metres above ground level.
Crash and aftermath
At 8.46:02 am, a massive fireball and thick plume of smoke were captured on CCTV footage from a highway near the airport. Emergency services rushed to the site, where the wreckage was found on the left side of the runway.
Visuals showed burning debris and the severely damaged aircraft as locals and rescue teams attempted to respond. Soon after, authorities confirmed that all five people on board had died.
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has taken over the investigation into the crash.
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