Five people killed in Baramati plane crash. Who were they?

The Lear jet 45 crashed during landing, igniting a fire. An investigation is underway by the DGCA into the incident, which has claimed all lives on board.

Updated on: Jan 28, 2026, 11:33:33 IST

By HT News Desk

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Maharashtra's deputy chief minister and Nationalist Congress leader Ajit Pawar passed away on Wednesday after his aircraft underwent a deadly crash in Baramati, killing all five on board.

The five people, including Pawar and his security staff, left early morning from Mumbai and were headed to the deputy CM's hometown Baramati, where he was expected to address public meetings. (PTI)

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The five people, including Pawar and his security staff, left early morning from Mumbai and were headed to the deputy CM's hometown Baramati, where he was expected to address four public meetings ahead of the Zilla Parishad polls in the state.

Ajit Pawar's plane, a Lear jet 45, VT-SSK, operated by VSR crashed at the threshold of runway 11 at Baramati airport around 8:48 am. The aircraft immediately reduced to flames, killing everyone aboard.

Who all were inside the aircraft?

According to Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), four people were present inside the aircraft, apart from deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar.

Pilots Sumit Kapoor and Shambhavi Pathak accompanied Pawar on his Lear jet 45, VT-SSK aircraft which crashed in Baramati.

Mumbai PSO HC and Pawar's security staff Vidhit Jadhav along with flight attendant Pinky Mali were also on board the aircraft.

The crash

Pune Superintendent of Police Sandeep Gill said that the bodies had been taken to the hospital. “When the plane crashed, we recovered three bodies first,” Gill said confirming that there were a total of five people on board including Ajit Pawar, his security personal, personal assistant, pilot and co-pilot.

Baramati airport manager Shivaji Taware told Hindustan Times that the aircraft VT SSK, was attempting landing when it suddenly went on the side of the runway and immediately exploded on crashing, adding that it was a Lear Jet 45 which was chartered from Mumbai.

DGCA chief Faiz Ahmed Kidwai said that an inquiry has been constituted into the crash.

The Baramati airport was recently handed over to Maharashtra airport development company. Before the handover, it was run by a private operator.

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