Tragic Crash at Baramati: Bombardier Learjet 45 Carrying Ajit Pawar Claims Five Lives

In a tragic aviation incident on Wednesday, a Bombardier Learjet 45 business jet carrying Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar crash-landed at Baramati Airport, resulting in the deaths of all five people on board, according to official incident reports and confirmations from senior state authorities.

The aircraft, registered as VT-SSK and operated by VSR Ventures Pvt. Ltd., was attempting to land when it encountered difficulties. The official report confirmed that no person on board survived the crash.

The five occupants included Ajit Pawar, his personal security guard, the pilot-in-command, the first officer, and an attendant. Twin-engine light jets like the Learjet 45 are commonly used for VIP and corporate travel, suited for short and medium-range flights and smaller airports such as Baramati due to their speed and size.

While the exact sequence of events leading to the crash is still under investigation, preliminary reports suggest complications during the landing phase. Airport staff and emergency responders were the first to arrive at the site, discovering the aircraft completely destroyed with no survivors.

Aviation authorities are expected to secure the crash site, initiate preliminary analyses, and recover the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder to determine the cause of the disaster. Investigators will examine weather conditions, aircraft systems, and crew communications during the final moments of the flight.

The crashed Bombardier Learjet 45, serial number 45-417, was sixteen years old and part of VSR Ventures’ fleet of 17 aircraft.

VSR Ventures Confirms Aircraft Safety

Despite the crash, VSR Ventures authorities emphasized the aircraft’s safety record. Vijay Kumar Singh, a senior official at VSR, told India Today TV that the jet was “100% safe” and the crew “fairly experienced.” He noted that poor visibility might have contributed but stated the DGCA investigation will provide definitive conclusions.

Singh confirmed the identities of the pilots, Sumit Kapoor and Sambhavi Pathak, among those who perished, saying, “We have lost our pilots, our passengers. The company is going through a really tough time.”

Founded in August 2011, VSR Ventures Pvt. Ltd. is headquartered in New Delhi and managed by Vijay Kumar Singh and Rohit Singh. The company offers 24-hour aviation services including charter flights, medivac missions, air ambulance services, private jet charters, and leasing. With over 60 pilots and 15 years of operational experience, VSR claims a 99% customer satisfaction rate, with bases in Hyderabad, Bhopal, Mumbai, and New Delhi.

Prior Incident in 2023

VSR Ventures has been involved in a previous serious aviation incident. On September 14, 2023, a Learjet 45XR operated by a VSR-affiliated company, registered VT-DBL, crash-landed at Mumbai Airport amid heavy rain and poor visibility while arriving from Visakhapatnam. The aircraft drifted off the runway after autopilot disengagement, triggering multiple cockpit alerts, including EGPWS, stick shaker, and stall warnings. Although the fuselage split and a fire started, all eight passengers survived, with some sustaining injuries, including the co-pilot.

Investigators reviewed aircraft performance, crew responses, visibility, and cockpit alerts during the final approach.

The Baramati crash has prompted immediate attention from aviation authorities. A thorough investigation by the DGCA will aim to reconstruct the final moments of the flight to determine whether mechanical failures, visibility issues, or other factors caused the tragic accident that claimed all five lives.