Maharashtra reels from a devastating plane crash that snuffed out Deputy CM Ajit Pawar’s life near Baramati, prompting PM Narendra Modi to call Sharad Pawar with heartfelt condolences Wednesday.
Family and followers prepare for Thursday’s funeral in Baramati, anticipating presence from top leaders including Modi and Shah.
The PM’s social media tribute resonated widely, voicing shared sorrow and prayers for resilience among the afflicted.
A pall of gloom descends on state politics; leaders term it an irreplaceable loss for Maharashtra.
Final radio exchanges expose the peril: crew alerted ATC of missing runway sightlines amid landing bids. Flames ignited seconds after clearance at the uncontrolled strip.
En route to a Baramati function, the Learjet met doom, felling Pawar and four others at the airstrip used for training.
Ministry bulletin outlines the sequence: 8:18 AM contact from VSR Ventures jet, post-Pune handoff at 30 NM, visual descent advised.
Calm winds, 3K meter viz reported, yet runway eluded on Runway 11 approach—go-around ensued.
Second pass: ‘Not visible yet’ radioed, then sighted, cleared at 8:43—no echo. Fire at 8:44 led to wreckage recovery left of threshold.
This incident spotlights vulnerabilities at non-towered fields, fueling demands for radar upgrades, better training, and accountability as the nation reflects on a leader’s untimely exit.