Ajit Pawar Funeral Details: Who are the Other Victims of Baramati Learjet 45? DGCA Releases Sequence of Events Leading to Crash
In a tragedy that has sent shockwaves across the nation’s political landscape, Maharashtra is preparing to bid a final farewell to its “Dada”, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who perished in a devastating plane crash at Baramati Airport on Wednesday morning.
The Final Journey: Funeral and State Honours in Baramati
The Maharashtra government has announced that the last rites of the 66-year-old NCP stalwart will be performed with full state honours on Thursday, January 29, 2026, at 11:00 AM. The funeral will take place at the Vidya Pratishthan Ground in Baramati, a location deeply synonymous with the Pawar family’s educational and social legacy.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah are expected to join Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy CM Eknath Shinde in Baramati to pay their final respects. Ahead of the funeral, a three-day period of state mourning (January 28–30) has been declared, with the national flag flying at half-mast across all government buildings.
Beyond the Leader: The Five Victims of VT-SSK
While the loss of Ajit Pawar marks the end of a political era, the tragedy claimed four other lives, leaving five families in mourning. The victims have been identified as:
- Ajit Pawar: Deputy CM of Maharashtra and NCP President.
- Vidhip (Vidhit) Jadhav: A dedicated Personal Security Officer (PSO) from the Mumbai Police, who was a constant shadow to the leader.
- Pinky Mali: The flight attendant on board, who had reportedly called her father just before takeoff to mention she was flying with the Deputy CM.
- Captain Sumit Kapoor: The Pilot-in-Command, a veteran with over 15,000 flying hours.
- Captain Shambhavi Pathak: The First Officer (Co-pilot), an experienced CPL holder.
DGCA Timeline: What Went Wrong at Runway 11?
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has released a detailed press note regarding the crash of the Bombardier Learjet 45 (Registration VT-SSK), operated by M/s VSR Ventures Pvt Ltd. The flight, which departed Mumbai at 08:10 AM, met its tragic end just 34 minutes later.
The Sequence of Events:
- 08:18 IST: The aircraft made its first contact with Baramati.
- Weather Conditions: Winds were reported as calm, but visibility was restricted to approximately 3,000 meters.
- First Approach: The pilots reported that Runway 11 was not in sight and initiated a mandatory “go-around.”
- Second Attempt: Minutes later, the crew confirmed the runway was in sight. At 08:43 IST, ATC cleared the aircraft for landing.
- The Silence: In a chilling detail, the DGCA noted that the crew did not provide a “readback” of the landing clearance.
- 08:44 IST: ATC observed flames erupting near the threshold of Runway 11. The wreckage was subsequently located on the left side of the runway.
Press note on Learjet 45 Aircraft VT-SSK crash at Baramati Airport of M/s VSR Ventures Pvt Ltd pic.twitter.com/Exah9xCTBl
— DGCA (@DGCAIndia) January 28, 2026
Safety Record of VSR Ventures Under Scrutiny
The investigation, now handed over to the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), will likely look into the history of the operator. Notably, another VSR Ventures Learjet 45 (VT-DBL) was involved in a landing accident at Mumbai Airport in September 2023.
While VT-SSK had a valid Airworthiness Review Certificate (ARC) until September 2026 and the pilots were highly experienced, investigators will focus on why the aircraft veered off the runway during its second attempt in low-visibility conditions.
A State in Stillness
For the people of Pune and Baramati, the loss is personal. Ajit Pawar was known for his “no-nonsense” administrative style and his tireless work for the cooperative sector. As the mortal remains stay at the Vidya Pratishthan for public darshan tonight, the streets of Baramati remain shrouded in silence, awaiting the arrival of the nation’s top leadership tomorrow.
