Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar was among five people killed on January 28, 2026, when the private aircraft he was traveling in crashed during landing at Baramati Airport in Pune district, officials have confirmed.
The incident occurred around 8:45 AM, cutting short a flight from Mumbai to Baramati where Pawar was scheduled to attend political events.
According to preliminary reports from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the aircraft encountered technical instability and a loss of control during its final approach, causing it to crash-land and burst into flames near the runway threshold. Visuals from the scene showed the wreckage completely destroyed, debris strewn across the site, and thick smoke rising from the crash zone.
The Aircraft: Learjet 45XR
The plane involved was a Learjet 45XR, a mid-size business jet owned and operated by VSR Ventures Private Limited, a New Delhi-based non-scheduled aircraft operator.
• Model & Manufacturer: Bombardier Learjet 45XR, produced by Bombardier Aerospace between 1998 and 2009.
• Capacity & Performance: Designed to seat up to eight passengers, this business jet is known for high cruise speeds (up to Mach 0.78–0.81) and a range of around 2,000–2,235 nautical miles.
• Engines & Ceiling: Powered by two Honeywell TFE731 engines, capable of flying at altitudes as high as 51,000 feet, offering efficient and relatively comfortable travel for short- to medium-haul routes.
The aircraft’s registration was VT-SSK, and it was part of VSR Ventures’ private charter fleet used for corporate and VIP travel.
Questions are now being raised about the safety record of the VSR Ventures Learjet fleet, as reports indicate that a Learjet operated by the same company had experienced a crash-landing incident in 2023 during bad weather at Mumbai airport — although that earlier mishap did not result in fatalities.
The DGCA has launched a formal investigation to determine the exact cause of the crash, including whether technical issues, human error or weather conditions played a role. Flight data and cockpit voice recorders are expected to be examined as part of the probe.