Ajit Pawar plane crash: Sharad Pawar sees no conspiracy in Ajit's death, 'don't bring politics into it'

• A chartered aircraft, flying from Mumbai to Baramati, crash-landed at around 8.45 am at the runway threshold, killing all five persons on board.

• The people on board were Maharashtra deputy CM Ajit Pawar, his personal security officer (PSO), an attendant, and the two pilots. Further details regarding the exact cause of the crash are awaited.

• Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has announced three-day mourning in the state, with state government offices remaining closed Wednesday.

• Ajit Pawar will be cremated with full state honours on Thursday. He is survived by his wife Sunetra Pawar – a Rajya Sabha MP – and two sons.

Ajit Pawar death news updates: Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis accused Mamata Banerjee of indulging in "dirty and despicable politics" after the Bengal CM called for a Supreme Court-monitored probe into Ajit Pawar's death. Fadnavis said that Banerjee's remarks were "very unfortunate" and further accused the West Bengal CM of "stooping to such a low level in politics".

"It's very unfortunate. Senior leader Sharad Pawar himself has very clearly stated that an accident occurred, and tragically, lives were lost in the accident, and that politics should not be played over this. I am deeply saddened that we have reached such a point where such dirty and despicable politics are being played out even over someone's death," Fadnavis told ANI.

Ajit Pawar death news updates: Ajit Pawar's mortal remains were brought to an educational institute in Baramati on Wednesday evening even as grief-stricken NCP workers and local residents shouted slogans hailing the late leader. Slogans like 'Ajit dada amar rahe" and "Ajit dada parat ya" (long live Ajit dada, Ajit dada come back) reverberated the air as the mortal remains were brought to the premises of the Vidya Pratishtan to allow people to pay their last respects.

His mortal remains, which were at the Medical College in Baramati, were brought to the Vidya Pratishtan in a vehicle decked with flowers as people standing on both sides of the road got emotional and broke down.

Ajit Pawar death news updates: Union home minister Amit Shah is set to visit Baramati on Thursday to attend the last rites of Ajit Pawar, who passed away in a plane crash earlier this morning. Pawar's last rites will be performed with full state honours at 11 am on Thursday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also likely to attend the last rites. However, there is no confirmation on PM Modi's visit.

Ajit Pawar death news updates: Former Union minister Suryakanta Patil said she once told Ajit Pawar that she will come to meet him only when he becomes CM, but sadly that occasion will never come now. Patil said Pawar's sudden death came as a shock to her and termed it as a big loss for Maharashtra.

"The news of the tragic demise of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar was hard for me to believe at first, but one has to accept the bitter truth of what has happened," she said. "There can never be another leader like Ajit Pawar in Maharashtra. He was known for keeping a firm grip over officers, working tirelessly for party workers and always keeping his word. I have seen him grow from a young boy into a great leader," she said, tears welling up in her eyes.

Ajit Pawar death news updates: The Baramati plane crash could have been avoided if the airport runway had been equipped with an instrument landing system to guide the pilot through marginal visibility, an aviation expert told PTI news agency on Wednesday.

“Baramati airport has a small field runway, but it is sufficient for (aircraft like) Learjet to land. I do not think that the runway would contribute to this crash, as it happened before or outside the runway,” retired pilot Ehsan Khalid told PTI.

"So, it is not the runway. (But) Yes, if the runway was equipped with ILS (instrument landing system) or other instrument systems that would guide the pilot properly during marginal visibility conditions, this (the crash) could have been avoided," he added.

Ajit Pawar death news updates: The Indian Air Force (IAF) has taken over the Air Traffic Control (ATC) of the Baramati airport. The ATC at Baramati was managed by two flying schools- Redbird Flight Training Academy and Carver Aviation.

Maharashtra Chief Secretary Rajesh Aggarwal said that he spoke to Indian Air Force and asked them to take over the ATC of Baramati airport as the state owned Baramati airport has no proper ATC. The IAF took over the ATC and the airport late on Wednesday evening.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah is scheduled to reach Baramati and PM Narendra Modi is also likely to visit. Chief Ministers of several states are also expected to land in Baramati to attend Pawar's last rites.

Ajit Pawar death news updates: NCP (SP) president Sharad Pawar on Wednesday rubbished political remarks around Ajit Pawar's plane crash and said the incident shouldn't be politicised.

Calling his death an “irreparable loss”, the elder Pawar said Ajit's death was a big shock for Maharashtra, which has lost a hardworking and efficient leader. "Not all things are in our hands," he added.

In an apparent reference to Mamata Banerjee's remark, he said, “A stand was floated from Kolkata that there is some politics involved in this incident. But there is nothing like this. There is no politics in it. It was an accident. I request not to bring politics into it.” Banerjee has demanded a Supreme Court-monitored probe into the death of Ajit Pawar, alleging that "all other agencies" have been “completely compromised”.

Ajit Pawar death news updates: Union Minister of Civil Aviation Ram Mohan Naidu is conducting a meeting with Samir Kumar Sinha, Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation, and DGCA DG Faiz Ahmed Kidwai in Hyderabad.

Ajit Pawar death news updates: Goa chief minister Pramod Sawant condoled Ajit Pawar's death and called him as a close friend and a visionary leader who made significant contributions to the state.

Speaking to reporters, CM Sawant said, "Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar was a very close friend of mine. I express my condolences on behalf of the Goa government and the people of Goa. We have lost a visionary leader who made a significant contribution to Maharashtra. I have lost a close friend. He had made immense contributions and worked tirelessly for Maharashtra for many years."

Ajit Pawar death news updates: Following the demise of Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, a condolence meeting was organised at the party's Central Office in the national capital. NCP passed a condolence resolution, according to a press statement from the Delhi office. The meeting was attended by a large number of the Party's national office-bearers, the President of the Delhi State Unit, other officials, and party workers, who observed a two-minute silence in prayer for eternal peace.

Ajit Pawar death news updates: NCP (SP) leader Sharad Pawar on Wednesday called Ajit Pawar's death an “irrecoverable loss” for Maharashtra. Speaking to reporters, Pawar said, “This is an accident, please don't bring politics in it.”

The remark comes after West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee demanded a Supreme Court-monitored probe into the death of Pawar, alleging that “all other agencies” have been “completely compromised”.

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) leaders condoled the death of Ajit Pawar in a plane crash, calling it a major loss to the state's political and social spheres, and hailed his public life as impactful. RSS General Secretary (Sarkaryawah) Dattatreya Hosabale said in a post on X, "The sudden demise of Maharashtra's Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar ji today in an airplane accident is extremely unfortunate and heartbreaking."

“Pawar's public life has been long and impactful. The RSS offers him a heartfelt tribute and prays to God to grant peace to his soul,” he added.

Ajit Pawar death news updates: NCP leader Nawab Malik expressed his condolences over Ajit Pawar's death and said that the NCP chief was such a leader who would clearly speak the truth. Calling him a "secular" leader, Malik said that Pawar's passing was an “irreparable loss”.

“Ajit Pawar died in a plane crash this morning, this is a sad incident for us, the people of Maharashtra are mourning. The kind of rapport I used to have with him, who used to stand with us in adverse times, my family can't forget. He was such a leader who would speak the truth clearly, I would say that a secular leader has gone away from us, it is an irreparable loss, we are with his family... People will remember the work done by him. The last rites will be conducted at 11 am tomorrow, the funeral procession will start at 9 am,” Malik said.

Ajit Pawar death news updates: NCP (SP) MP Supriya Sule arrived at Vidya Pratishthan in Baramati to pay her respects to her late cousin Ajit Pawar, who was killed in a crash this morning. CM Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy CM Eknath Shinde were present at Vidya Pratishthan in Baramati.

Meanwhile, Sunetra Pawar broke down while meeting members of the Pawar family after the untimely demise of her husband in a charter plane crash that claimed four more lives.

Ajit Pawar death news updates: Two young women, cabin crew member Pinky Mali, 29, and pilot-in-command Captain Shambhavi Pathak, were among the five people killed when a chartered Learjet 45 carrying Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar crashed on Wednesday morning. Pinky Mali, a Mumbai-based cabin crew member, lived with her family in Worli and was on duty for the chartered flight. Originally from Bhainsa village in Jaunpur district of eastern Uttar Pradesh, Pinky had completed her schooling and higher education in Thane before joining the aviation sector. Read more

Ajit Pawar death news updates: VSR Aviation owner, VK Singh, on Wednesday said no to grounding of its Learjet 45 planes after an aircraft of same model crashed and killed Maharashtra deputy CM Ajit Pawar and four others in Baramati. Singh said there is ‘absolutely no problem in the aircraft’ and theorised that the pilot could not see the runway, which is why he made a missed approach to land. Read full story here

Ajit Pawar death news updates: Shock and grief swept through Vitawa locality in Thane's Kalwa area as the news broke that Vidip Jadhav, a security officer to Ajit Pawar, was among the five people killed in the Baramati crash.

Jadhav, a long-time resident of Vitawa, is survived by his parents, a 14-year-old daughter, and a nine-year-old son. His parents were away at their native place when the tragedy struck, and the family has since rushed to Baramati.

Ajit Pawar death news updates: Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy CM Eknath Shinde arrived at Vidya Pratishthan in Baramati to pay their last respects to the late Ajit Pawar. Maharashtra Governor Acharya Devvrat was also present to pay his respects. Nationalist Congress Party (SP) chief Sharad Pawar, along with NCP working president Praful Patel, Maharashtra NCP president Sunil Tatkare, and State Minister Hasan Mushrif, reached Vidya Pratishthan in Baramati to pay their last respects to the late Deputy Chief Minister.

Ajit Pawar death news updates: Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy CM Eknath Shinde and several other leaders have arrived in Baramati. The last rites of Ajit Pawar will be performed in Baramati at 11:00 am on Wednesday.

Ajit Pawar death news updates: Maharashtra ministers Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, Chandrashekhar Bawankule, Pankaja Munde, Girish Mahajan, and others arrive at Baramati Airport.

Ajit Pawar death news updates: The aircraft carrying Ajit Pawar was cleared for landing at Baramati airport after multiple attempts, but having finally received landing clearance it did not give any 'read-back' or response to the ATC. The aircraft, Learjet 45, burst moments later into flames on the edge of the runway.

Here is a sequence of events leading to the crash of the ill-fated plane:

• The aircraft VI-SSK first came in contact at 8.18 am, as per the Baramati Air Traffic Control (ATC).
• The next call was at 30 nautical miles inbound to Baramati. It was advised to descend in "visual meteorological conditions" at the pilot's discretion.
• The crew then enquired about the winds and visibility, and were informed that the winds were calm and visibility was around 3,000 metres
• A civil aviation ministry statement said that the aircraft reported on the final approach of Runway 11 and the runway was not in sight to them. "They initiated a go-around in the first approach," it said.
• After the go-around, the crew was again asked if they could spot the runway. The reply was: "Runway is currently not in sight, will call when runway is in sight".
• After a few seconds, the crew reported that they could spot the runway. "The aircraft was cleared to land on runway 11 at 0843 IST (8.43 am). However, they did not give a readback of the landing clearance (did not respond to ATC). Next, the ATC saw the flames around the threshold of runway 11 at 0844 IST (8.44 am)," the statement said.
• The emergency services then rushed to the crash site, but it was too late. Baramati has an 'uncontrolled airfield', and traffic information was provided by the instructors/pilots from the Flying training Organisations at Baramati.

Ajit Pawar death news updates: Sunetra Pawar, wife of party chief Ajit Pawar, broke down while meeting members of the Pawar family after the untimely demise of the Deputy CM in a charter plane crash that claimed four more lives. NCP (SP) MP Supriya Sule, late Ajit Pawar's cousin, was also seen deeply emotional as family members gathered to mourn the loss. Pawar is survived by his wife, Sunetra Pawar and two sons, Jay and Parth Pawar.

Ajit Pawar death news updates: West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee has demanded an investigation monitored by the Supreme Court into Ajit Pawar's death in a plane crash at Baramati. The Bengal CM has also raised questions purportedly linking the incident to his political trajectory. “I am deeply shocked to hear the news of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar’s death in a plane crash this morning. Even political leaders are not safe in this country, let alone common people. Two days ago, I came to know that someone from another party had given a statement that Pawar was willing to leave the BJP, and now this has happened today. I demand a proper investigation under the supervision of the Supreme Court. We have trust only in the Supreme Court and no other agency. All agencies have been completely compromised. It is truly a great loss. Today he is in the opposition, but tomorrow he was supposed to return to the original course of his party. My condolences to his family, the people of Maharashtra, and to Sharad Pawar,” Mamata said.

Ajit Pawar death news updates: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said there should be a probe into the air crash involving Ajit Pawar. The Learjet 46, operated by Delhi-based VSR Ventures, crash-landed at the Baramati airport. There were five people on board, including the crew members, according to DGCA. Kharge said Pawar's death was untimely and he was someone who worked for the people. "This has hurt everyone, including his family members, and we share their grief and pray that they can bear this loss," Kharge told reporters.