In a devastating turn of events that has sent shockwaves across India, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar lost his life on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, in a fiery Ajit Pawar plane crash near the Baramati airstrip [[1]]. The Bombardier Learjet 45XR, owned by VSR Ventures, burst into flames upon impact, claiming the lives of all five people on board [[9]].
But as the nation mourns, a deeply unsettling detail has emerged from the wreckage: this is not the first time a VSR Aviation-owned Learjet has met with a catastrophic landing mishap in Maharashtra. This eerie precedent has ignited a firestorm of questions about oversight, safety protocols, and whether this tragedy could have been prevented.
Table of Contents
- The Tragic Event: What Happened in Baramati?
- The Disturbing Precedent: VSR Aviation’s 2023 Learjet Crash
- Connecting the Dots: A Pattern of Mishaps?
- Industry Implications and the Future of Private Aviation Safety
- Conclusion: A Call for Thorough Investigation
- Sources
The Tragic Event: What Happened in Baramati?
On the morning of January 28, 2026, the chartered Learjet 45XR (registration VT-SSK), operated by VSR Aviation, was on its final approach to the private airstrip in Baramati, Pune district [[20]]. Reports indicate the aircraft was attempting a second landing approach when it veered off the runway, crashed, and was immediately engulfed in a massive fireball [[18]]. There were no survivors among the five souls on board, including the veteran NCP leader [[3]].
The incident has prompted an immediate investigation by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), which has classified the event as a serious occurrence [[7]]. The focus is now squarely on determining the precise sequence of events that led to this catastrophic failure during a routine landing procedure.
The Disturbing Precedent: VSR Aviation’s 2023 Learjet Crash
The most alarming aspect of this tragedy is its uncanny similarity to another incident involving the same aircraft operator. On September 14, 2023, another Learjet 45XR owned by VSR Ventures (registration VT-DBL) was involved in a severe landing mishap at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport [[10]].
During heavy monsoon rains, the aircraft skidded off the runway while attempting to land. The official preliminary report from the DGCA confirmed the accident, noting the aircraft’s impact with the runway environment [[17]]. Fortunately, in that instance, all eight people on board survived, though they sustained injuries [[13]].
This 2023 event wasn’t just a minor incident; it was a major red flag. The fact that a private jet operator experienced such a significant runway excursion—a critical safety failure—just over two years before a fatal crash involving another of its jets is a connection that cannot be ignored.
Connecting the Dots: A Pattern of Mishaps?
While the specific causes of the two crashes may differ—one occurring in poor weather in Mumbai, the other in Baramati—the common threads are impossible to overlook:
- Same Operator: Both aircraft were owned and operated by VSR Ventures.
- Same Aircraft Type: Both incidents involved the Bombardier Learjet 45XR, a popular business jet known for its speed but also scrutinized for its handling characteristics in certain conditions [[11]].
- Same Phase of Flight: Both accidents occurred during the critical landing phase, suggesting potential issues with pilot training, operational procedures, or maintenance specific to VSR’s fleet.
This pattern raises serious questions about the safety management systems within VSR Aviation. Did the lessons from the 2023 Mumbai crash get fully implemented? Were there underlying systemic issues that went unaddressed? The aviation industry operates on the principle of learning from every incident to prevent future tragedies. This apparent failure to do so is at the heart of the current public concern.
Industry Implications and the Future of Private Aviation Safety
The Ajit Pawar plane crash is more than a personal tragedy; it’s a stark reminder of the need for rigorous oversight in India’s growing private aviation sector. Unlike commercial airlines, which operate under intense scrutiny, private charter operators can sometimes fall through regulatory cracks.
This incident will likely trigger a comprehensive review of VSR Aviation’s operations by the DGCA. It may also lead to broader policy discussions on enhancing safety audits, mandating more robust recurrent training for pilots flying in diverse conditions, and ensuring that findings from past incidents are not just documented but actively enforced. For a deeper look into global aviation safety standards, resources from the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) provide a crucial framework that national regulators like the DGCA must uphold.
For those interested in the political landscape of Maharashtra, this event marks a significant moment. [INTERNAL_LINK:maharashtra-politics-after-ajit-pawar] will be a space to watch in the coming weeks.
Conclusion: A Call for Thorough Investigation
The loss of Ajit Pawar is a profound blow to Maharashtra and Indian politics. However, the circumstances surrounding his death demand more than just condolences. The shadow of VSR Aviation’s previous Learjet crash casts a long and dark pall over this event. It is imperative that the ongoing investigation is not only swift but also transparent and exhaustive. The families of the victims, and the public at large, deserve to know if this was a tragic one-off event or the consequence of a preventable pattern of negligence. Only a thorough probe can provide those answers and, hopefully, prevent such a heartbreaking recurrence.
Sources
- TouchingHeartsByGenmice. “On Wednesday, January 28, 2026…” Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/TouchingHeartsByGenmice/photos/on-wednesday-january-28-2026-maharashtra-deputy-chief-minister-ajit-pawar-tragic/894383036291638/
- Catholic Connect. “Plane Crash Near Baramati: Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar Dead.” https://catholicconnect.in/news/plane-crash-near-baramati-maharashtra-deputy-cm-ajit-pawar-dead
- The Economic Times. “Ajit Pawar plane crash: From CDS Bipin Rawat…” https://m.economictimes.com/news/new-updates/ajit-pawar-plane-crash-cds-bipin-rawat-to-sanjay-gandhi-list-of-famous-personalities-who-died-in-aviation-disaster/articleshow/127677291.cms
- Gulf News. “Plane that Ajit Pawar died in had crashed before.” https://gulfnews.com/world/asia/india/plane-that-ajit-pawar-died-in-had-crashed-before-1.500423058
- The Hindu. “Ajit Pawar plane crash LIVE: Maharashtra Deputy CM…” https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/maharashtra/maharshtra-plane-crash-ajit-pawar-dead-updates/article70559359.ece
- India Today. “Plane carrying Ajit Pawar was a Bombardier Learjet 45…” https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/ajit-pawar-killed-plane-crash-bombardier-learjet-45-business-jet-occurrence-report-2858846-2026-01-28
- DGCA Occurrence Report. Twitter Post by @chandrarsrikant. https://x.com/chandrarsrikant/status/2016368076703596721
- Times of India. “Ajit Pawar Plane Crash Live updates…” https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/pune/ajit-pawar-plane-crash-live-updates-maharashtra-deputy-cm-baramati-hospital/liveblog/127675224.cms
- PTI via India Today. “Ajit Pawar dies in plane crash in Maharashtra’s Baramati.” https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/ajit-pawar-dead-after-plane-crashes-during-landing-in-maharashtra-news-agency-pti-2858823-2026-01-28
- Aviation Safety Network. “Accident Learjet 45XR VT-DBL, Thursday 14 September 2023.” https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/345540
- DGCA Preliminary Report. “Accident involving M/s VSR Ventures’ Learjet 45 aircraft VT-DBL…” https://aaib.gov.in/Reports/2023/Accident/Prelim%20Report%20VT-DBL%20on%2014.09.2023%20Final%20Approved.pdf
- FlightRadar24 Blog. “Learjet 45 crashes attempting to land in Mumbai.” https://www.flightradar24.com/blog/aviation-news/aviation-safety/learjet-crash-mumbai/
- NDTV. “Ajit Pawar Dies In Plane Crash: What We Know About The Aircraft Involved.” https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/ajit-pawar-dies-in-plane-crash-what-we-know-about-the-aircraft-involved-10897495
- NewsOnAir. “Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar dies in plane crash.” https://www.newsonair.gov.in/maharashtra-deputy-cm-ajit-pawar-dies-in-plane-crash/
- Moneycontrol. “Maharashtra deputy CM Ajit Pawar dies in Baramati plane crash…” https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/india/maharashtra-deputy-cm-ajit-pawar-dies-in-baramati-plane-crash-video-shows-aircraft-split-into-pieces-13794006.html