Aviation Minister K Ram Mohan Naidu stated that poor visibility is a possible cause of the plane crash that killed Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and four others near Baramati on Wednesday morning. An investigation into the incident is currently underway.

According to the Ministry of Civil Aviation, the Learjet 45, operated by VSR Ventures, contacted Baramati Air Traffic Control (ATC) at 8:18 am. The crew reported being 30 nautical miles inbound and were advised to descend at the pilot's discretion under visual meteorological conditions. The pilots were informed that winds were calm and visibility was around 3,000 meters.

The aircraft then reported being on final approach for Runway 11, but the runway was not in sight, leading the pilots to initiate a go-around. During the second landing attempt, the ATC once again inquired whether the runway was visible, and the pilot confirmed visibility. The aircraft was cleared to land on Runway 11 at 8:43 am IST, but the pilots did not give a readback of the landing clearance. Moments later, at 8:44 am IST, the ATC observed flames near the runway threshold.

Civil Aviation Minister K Ram Mohan Naidu stated that the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has begun a formal investigation into the crash, and all aspects leading to the tragedy will be thoroughly examined in a transparent and accountable manner. Teams from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and AAIB have arrived to carry out a probe into the accident. The AAIB will retrieve the flight recorder, Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System (EGPWS), and Digital Engine Electronic System (DEES) as part of the investigation. Airframe and engine logbooks, work orders, on-board documents, and major inspection records related to the aircraft will also be scrutinized. The probe team has also requested documents related to the crew and the aircraft from the DGCA.

VK Singh, director of VSR Corp., indicated that the pilot could not see the runway, citing possible visibility issues. He noted that the aircraft made two loops before attempting an approach from runway 2-9 and then executed a missed approach before attempting a second landing.

Preliminary findings indicate that the aircraft, registered as VT-SSK, was airworthy and duly certified, with its Airworthiness Review Certificate (ARC) issued on September 10, 2025. Both pilots were licensed, current, and medically fit at the time of the flight. The Pilot-in-Command, Sumit Kapur, held an Airline Transport Pilot Licence (ATPL) and had over 15,000 hours of flying experience. The co-pilot, Shambhavi Pathak, was a Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL) holder with around 1,500 hours of flying experience.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences to the family of Ajit Pawar and those who lost their lives in the accident. Home Minister Amit Shah also expressed his grief and acknowledged Pawar's contributions to Maharashtra. Ajit Pawar's funeral will be held in Baramati on Thursday, with Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Shah expected to attend.