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2026 aviation accident in India
 A CCTV still of a large explosion rising from the crash site | |
| Accident | |
|---|---|
| Date | 28 January 2026 |
| Summary | Lost control during emergency landing; under investigation |
| Site | Baramati Airport, Baramati, Pune district, Maharashtra, India |
| Aircraft | |
 VT-SSK, the aircraft involved in the accident, pictured in 2022 | |
| Aircraft type | Learjet 45 |
| Operator | VSR Ventures |
| Registration | VT-SSK |
| Flight origin | Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, Mumbai, India |
| Destination | Baramati Airport, Baramati, India |
| Occupants | 5 |
| Passengers | 2 |
| Crew | 3 |
| Fatalities | 5 |
| Survivors | 0 |
On 28 January 2026, a Learjet 45XR operated by VSR Ventures crashed during a charter flight from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai to Baramati Airport in Maharashtra, India, killing the deputy chief minister of Maharashtra, Ajit Pawar, as well as all four other occupants.
The aircraft involved was VT-SSK, a 16-year-old Learjet 45XR operated by VSR Ventures.[1][2][3] VSR Aviation provides charter and medivac flights.[4]
Passengers and crew
[edit]
There were five people on board the flight. The pilot was Sumit Kapur, who had logged 16,500 flight hours. The co-pilot was identified as Shambhavi Pathak. The flight attendant was identified as Pinky Mali. The passengers were identified as Ajit Pawar, the deputy chief minister of Maharashtra, and his personal security officer, Vidip Jadhav.[5][6]
At approximately 08:46 IST (UTC+5:30), the aircraft crashed while attempting a second approach to runway 11 at Baramati Airport. The aircraft veered off the runway, burst into flames, and was destroyed on impact, resulting in the deaths of Pawar and four others on board.[7][8][9] CCTV footage showed the aircraft flipping, losing control, crashing and exploding.[10] At the time of the incident, Ajit Pawar was travelling to Baramati to address multiple public meetings in connection with the upcoming Zilla Parishad elections.[11]
Devendra Fadnavis, the chief minister of Maharashtra, announced three days of state mourning. He went on to describe the incident as "an immeasurable loss". The loss was announced by half flaring of flag of India for the next three days after the accident.[1]
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted on Twitter that he was saddened by news of the crash and also paid tribute to Pawar.[12]
Tributes came in from across the political spectrum including from Devendra Fadnavis, Rahul Gandhi, Amit Shah and Sanjay Raut.[12]
VK Singh, the owner of VSR Ventures, claimed technical failure was unlikely and low visibility was the primary factor behind the incident.[13]
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau arrived at the scene and is investigating the cause.[14][15]
- ^ a b "Ajit Pawar plane crash live updates: Maharashtra CM Fadnavis announces three-day state mourning after Pawar's death". Hindustan Times. 28 January 2026. Retrieved 28 January 2026.
- ^ "VT-SSK – Learjet 45XR". Flightradar24. Retrieved 28 January 2026.
- ^ "Learjet 45 XR involved in Baramati plane crash had previous accident history". The New Indian Express. 28 January 2026. Retrieved 28 January 2026.
- ^ "VSR Aviation". VSR Aviation. Retrieved 28 January 2026.
- ^ "Maharashtra Dy CM Ajit Pawar, four others killed after plane crash in Baramati". The Hindu. 28 January 2026.
- ^ "Ajit Pawar Plane Crash Live updates: 'Dada was a man of his word': Fadnavis pays tribute to Ajit Pawar; 3-day state mourning declared". The Times of India. 28 January 2026. Retrieved 28 January 2026.
- ^ "Ajit Pawar's Flight Crash in Baramati". CNN-News18. 28 January 2026. Retrieved 28 January 2026.
- ^ "Ajit Pawar Passed Away: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister dies in plane crash near Baramati". Lokmat. 28 January 2026. Retrieved 28 January 2026.
- ^ "Air charter crash in India's Maharashtra kills key state leader". Reuters. 28 January 2026. Retrieved 28 January 2026.
- ^ "Steep descent, then fireball: New video shows moment Ajit Pawar's plane crashed". India Today. 28 January 2026. Retrieved 28 January 2026.
- ^ Wable, Omkar (28 January 2026). "Ajit Pawar, 4 others killed in plane crash in Baramati: What we know so far". India Today. Retrieved 28 January 2026.
- ^ a b "Ajit Pawar: Veteran Indian politician dies in plane crash". BBC News. 28 January 2026. Retrieved 28 January 2026.
- ^ "V.K. Singh: 'Aircraft Was Absolutely Fit, Low Visibility Likely Caused The Crash'". India Today. 28 January 2026. Retrieved 28 January 2026.
- ^ "Ajit Pawar plane crash updates: AAIB team reaches Baramati; launches forensic probe". Deccan Herald. 28 January 2026. Retrieved 28 January 2026.
- ^ "Ajit Pawar LIVE: Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau To Probe Cause Of Crash". NDTV. 28 January 2026. Retrieved 28 January 2026.