Runway Not in Sight, Then Crash: Final Minutes Before Ajit Pawar’s Fatal Flight

New details have emerged about the final moments of the Learjet 45 aircraft carrying Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, which crashed near Baramati, killing all five people on board.

According to a release issued by the Ministry of Civil Aviation, confusion marked the aircraft’s approach as it attempted to land at Baramati, an uncontrolled airfield. Flight data shows the jet departed from Mumbai at 8:10 am and made first contact with Baramati air traffic coordination at 8:18 am.

As the aircraft descended, pilots were advised to continue the approach under visual meteorological conditions at their discretion. The crew was informed that wind conditions were calm and visibility stood at approximately 3,000 metres. Despite this, the pilots reported that the runway was not in sight during the first landing attempt and initiated a go-around.

During the second approach, air traffic control again asked whether the runway was visible. The crew responded that it was still not in sight and said they would confirm once visual contact was established. At 8:43 am, the pilots reported sighting the runway and were granted landing clearance. However, officials noted that no readback confirmation was received from the aircraft.

Just a minute later, at 8:44 am, air traffic officials observed flames near the threshold of Runway 11. Emergency teams were immediately dispatched, but the aircraft had already crashed short of the runway and burst into flames on impact.

A senior aviation official familiar with the preliminary investigation said the aircraft went down well within the airstrip perimeter but significantly short of the runway threshold. The final words reportedly heard from the cockpit moments before impact were “oh s***”. The crash claimed the lives of Ajit Pawar, his personal security officer Vidip Jadhav, pilot-in-command Captain Sumit Kapur, first officer Captain Shambhavi Pathak and flight attendant Pinky Mali. Authorities have since recovered the aircraft’s black box, and a detailed investigation into the cause of the crash is underway.