GUWAHATI: Minutes before a fatal crash near the Baramati airstrip on Wednesday morning, the chartered aircraft carrying Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar was attempting a second approach for landing, according to official briefings.
Last Rites of Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar to be Held with Full State Honours on January 29
The Bombardier Learjet 45, registered VT-SSK and operated by VSR Ventures, had departed Mumbai earlier in the morning for Baramati, where Pawar was scheduled to attend political events linked to upcoming local body elections.
Civil Aviation Ministry officials said the flight progressed normally until its descent toward Baramati at around 8:18 am. As the aircraft neared the airstrip, pilots remained in contact with airport information services but were initially unable to visually identify the runway.
Baramati is a small regional airfield without advanced navigational systems such as an Instrument Landing System, requiring pilots to rely largely on visual cues while landing. When the runway was not in sight during the first approach, the crew carried out a go-around, a standard safety procedure.
During the second approach, the pilots informed airport authorities that they had the runway in sight and were cleared to land. Shortly after this exchange, the aircraft disappeared from radar screens. Emergency responders later reported seeing intense flames near the runway threshold.
Preliminary accounts from aviation officials indicate that visibility in the area was limited at the time, which may have complicated the visual approach. Aviation sources familiar with operations at Baramati have said such conditions can make landing more challenging at airstrips without instrument-based guidance.
Eyewitnesses near the site said the jet descended sharply before crashing and bursting into flames, followed by multiple explosions that prevented immediate rescue efforts.
All five people on board were killed, including Ajit Pawar, his security officer, an aide, and the two pilots. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation confirmed there were no survivors.
An Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau team has reached the site to begin a detailed investigation. Officials said the probe will focus on the final phase of the flight, including approach procedures, visibility conditions, and technical data recovered from the aircraft.