The skies turned somber over Maharashtra as Deputy CM Ajit Pawar perished in a devastating Learjet crash, prompting Pune Rural Police to file an Accidental Death Report at Baramati station. Officials confirmed that expert teams from DGCA and AAIB are on the ground, meticulously analyzing wreckage and flight data to pinpoint the crash’s trigger.
Every angle of the tragedy is under scrutiny, with the case set to transfer to the state CID post-AAIB report. In Kathewadi, Pawar’s hometown, mourners have converged for the final farewell. The ceremony kicks off at the family farm, culminating in a 11 AM cremation at Baramati’s Vidya Pratisthan Ground, drawing top politicians like CM Fadnavis and Deputy CM Shinde.
Supporters and dignitaries poured in, reflecting Pawar’s enduring legacy in NCP and Maharashtra politics. The government mandated three days of state mourning, flags lowered across public edifices in tribute. The VSR-operated VT-SSK jet housed Pawar, his PSO, a cabin crew member, and pilots Sumit Kapoor and Shambhavi Pathak, plus identified passengers Vidit Jadhav and Pinky Mali.
This catastrophe not only silences a key political voice but ignites urgent calls for aviation oversight reforms. As investigators delve deeper, the nation watches for answers that could prevent future heartbreaks. Pawar’s journey from local leader to deputy CM embodied resilience, and his absence reshapes the political landscape profoundly.