Poor Visibility Cited in Ajit Pawar Plane Crash, Probe Underway

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar died on Wednesday morning in a tragic chartered plane crash while travelling from Mumbai to Baramati, triggering widespread grief across the state and a full-scale aviation investigation.

Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu said preliminary information points to poor visibility during landing as a possible factor behind the accident, which occurred around 8:48 am at the Baramati runway.

“We will conduct a transparent and accountable investigation. Initial inputs suggest visibility was poor at the time of landing,” the minister said, explaining that the pilot had initially reported that the runway was not visible, executed a go-around, and later confirmed visibility before being cleared to land, after which the crash occurred.

According to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), all five people on board, including Pawar, two crew members, and two aides, died when the aircraft crash-landed near the runway threshold. Probe teams from the DGCA and the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) have been dispatched to the site.

Expressing deep sorrow, the Civil Aviation Minister called Pawar’s death an “irreplaceable loss” for Maharashtra. “Ajit Dada guided us with his experience in public service. It is very difficult to accept that he is no longer with us,” he said.

State Mourning and Last Rites

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced a state holiday and three days of mourning, with the national flag to be flown at half-mast on government buildings across the state. All government entertainment programmes have been cancelled during the mourning period.

Ajit Pawar’s last rites will be performed with full state honours on January 29 at 11 am, officials said. His mortal remains will be kept at Vidya Pratishthan grounds in Baramati on Wednesday for the public to pay their last respects.

Calling Pawar’s death a personal loss, Fadnavis said, “Ajit Dada was a hardworking leader who never wavered. Leaders like him take years to build. His contribution to Maharashtra’s development was immense.”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also spoke to Pawar’s uncle, veteran leader Sharad Pawar, to convey his condolences.

Ajit Pawar was the longest-serving Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra (non-consecutively), having held the position six times under governments led by Prithviraj Chavan, Devendra Fadnavis, Uddhav Thackeray and Eknath Shinde. Known for his administrative grip and political endurance, Pawar remained a central figure in Maharashtra politics for decades.

He is survived by his wife Sunetra Pawar and sons Jay and Parth Pawar.

(With inputs from ANI)