Maharashtra reels from the shocking death of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in a fiery plane crash, with Pune Rural Police formally logging an Accidental Death Report at Baramati Taluka. Probe teams from DGCA and AAIB swarm the crash site, hunting for clues behind the Learjet 45’s plunge.
Detailed inquiries cover technical failures, weather factors, and procedural lapses, destined for CID handover after AAIB conclusions. Kathewadi buzzes with grief as kin and fans flock to the Pawar farm for tributes ahead of the 11 AM funeral at Vidya Pratisthan. Expect CM Devendra Fadnavis, Eknath Shinde, and other leaders to honor the fallen stalwart.
State-wide three-day mourning sees flags at half-staff, symbolizing collective sorrow. The doomed VT-SSK, managed by VSR Ventures, ferried Pawar alongside PSO, flight attendant Pinky Mali, Vidit Jadhav, PIC Sumit Kapoor, and SIC Shambhavi Pathak. This multi-fatality incident underscores vulnerabilities in private aviation.
Pawar’s political acumen drove Baramati’s growth and NCP’s fortunes; his void prompts succession debates. As forensics unfold, pressure mounts on regulators to enforce stricter safety nets. This tragedy etches a somber chapter in Maharashtra’s history, urging reflection on leadership and loss.