Nationalist Congress Party (SP) chief Sharad Pawar on Wednesday urged political leaders and the public not to politicise the death of his nephew, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who was killed along with four others in a plane crash near Baramati.
Speaking to the media after the tragedy, Sharad Pawar said the incident was an accident and should not be given a political colour, even as some leaders demanded a Supreme Court-monitored investigation into the crash.
“There is no politics in this. It was an accident. I request everyone not to bring politics into it,” Pawar said, responding indirectly to calls for an independent probe.
Crash Details: What Happened on Wednesday Morning
Ajit Pawar, 66, was travelling in a Bombardier Learjet 45 charter aircraft from Mumbai to Baramati on Wednesday morning. The jet took off at 8:10 am and made contact with Baramati airstrip at 8:18 am, according to the civil aviation ministry.
During the first landing attempt, the pilots informed air traffic personnel that the runway was not visible and executed a standard go-around. During the second approach, the crew again reported limited visibility before stating that the runway was in sight.
At 8:43 am, the aircraft was cleared to land on Runway 11. However, the crew did not acknowledge the clearance — a mandatory aviation procedure. Seconds later, the aircraft crashed short of the runway and burst into flames at 8:44 am.
All five occupants on board were killed instantly.
Final Moments of the Aircraft
According to preliminary details cited by aviation officials, the aircraft struck the ground left of the runway threshold and caught fire on impact. Emergency services were rushed to the site after airfield personnel noticed flames near the runway.
A senior official familiar with early assessments said there were no flames prior to touchdown, indicating the fire occurred after impact. The wreckage was largely gutted, with only the tail fin remaining intact.
Officials also confirmed that the last transmission from the cockpit was an expletive, reflecting the sudden nature of the incident.
Political Reactions and Calls for Probe
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee called for a Supreme Court-monitored investigation, saying the incident raised concerns about the safety of political leaders. She also described Ajit Pawar’s death as a loss for the nation.
Sharad Pawar, however, appealed for calm and restraint, calling his nephew’s death “an irreparable loss” for Maharashtra.
“Not everything is in our hands,” he said, describing Ajit Pawar as a hardworking and efficient administrator.
Investigation Ongoing
The Ministry of Civil Aviation has confirmed that the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder (black box) have been recovered. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is leading the probe, which will examine visibility conditions, pilot decision-making, and infrastructure limitations at the Baramati airstrip.
Officials have cautioned against drawing early conclusions until the investigation is completed.
