A devastating plane crash near Baramati Airport on Wednesday morning claimed the life of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and four others. The incident occurred around 8:45 am when the aircraft, a Learjet 45 registered as VT-SSK and operated by VSR Ventures, encountered difficulties while attempting to land. The aircraft was en route from Mumbai, having taken off at approximately 8:10 am.

Eyewitnesses at the scene described a horrific sequence of events. "I saw it with my eyes," recounted one local resident in an interview with ANI. "When the aircraft descended, it seemed it would crash, and it did crash. It then exploded. There was a massive explosion". The eyewitness further added that there were multiple explosions following the initial impact. Another witness stated that the plane appeared unstable before the crash, "The plane spun around and crashed...An eyewitness told how the accident happened. Ajit Pawar plane crash Baramati: The plane spun around and crashed...."

The immediate aftermath was marked by frantic attempts to assist those on board. "After that, we rushed here and saw that the aircraft was on fire," the first eyewitness explained. "More people came here, and they tried to pull the people out (of the aircraft). But since this was a huge fire, people could not help". The intensity of the blaze and repeated explosions hampered rescue efforts, leaving bystanders helpless. "People came and tried to pull the passengers out of the aircraft, but because the fire was too huge, they could not help,” the witness said.

Baramati airport manager Shivaji Taware told Hindustan Times that the aircraft, VT SSK, was attempting to land and the aircraft went off the side of the runway and exploded on crashing. The airport, previously privately operated, had recently been handed over to the Maharashtra Airport Development Company.

The tragic incident has prompted widespread শোক and condolences. Political figures have expressed their grief, with many acknowledging Pawar's long-standing commitment to the welfare of Maharashtra. Priyanka Chaturvedi, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP, said, "This is very shocking, painful and heart-rending…He was a really committed man who kept to his work".

Authorities have cordoned off the crash site, and an investigation is underway to determine the cause of the accident. Aviation experts are expected to analyze the flight data and cockpit voice recorders to understand the sequence of events leading to the crash. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has confirmed that the aircraft was a Learjet 45. The Learjet 45 is a mid-size business jet produced by Bombardier Aerospace, often used for chartered flights and VIP travel.

Ajit Pawar served as the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra for six terms. He was scheduled to attend a series of public engagements in Baramati later in the day.