40 Min Flight and Same-Day Return: Ajit Pawar’s Schedule on the Day That Turned Fatal in Baramati

New Delhi: A brief 40-minute flight planned as a same-day political visit turned fatal on Wednesday when a chartered aircraft carrying Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar crashed near Baramati airport during the landing phase.

According to sources, Ajit Pawar had scheduled a day visit to Baramati to attend a Zilla Parishad event. He departed Mumbai early Wednesday morning, taking a chartered flight around 7 am. The flight duration was estimated at approximately 40 minutes, after which Pawar was expected to attend the official programme and return to Mumbai later the same day.

The small charter aircraft took off from Mumbai around 8 am and was scheduled to land near Baramati shortly after. However, during its final approach, roughly 45 minutes after takeoff, the aircraft crashed near the airport perimeter while attempting touchdown. Visuals from the crash site showed thick plumes of smoke and flames rising from the wreckage, indicating the intensity of the impact.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation confirmed that all five passengers on board the aircraft lost their lives in the crash. 

 The incident occurred on a politically significant day, as most Members of Parliament were in the national capital for the Budget Session of Parliament, which begins today.

The crash has sent shockwaves through Maharashtra’s political circles, with leaders across party lines expressing grief over the loss. Authorities have launched an investigation to determine the exact cause of the crash, with a focus on the aircraft’s final moments during the landing attempt.