The Ministry of Civil Aviation on Wednesday released a detailed, minute-by-minute account of the sequence of events that led to the fatal crash of a chartered aircraft at Baramati airport, in which Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Ajit Pawar and four others lost their lives.
The ministry outlined that before the fatal crash, the crew had informed the Air Traffic Control that the runway was not visible due to fog over the region.
In a statement outlining the preliminary operational chronology, the ministry said Baramati is an uncontrolled airfield, where traffic information is provided by instructors or pilots from the flying training organisations operating there, rather than by a full-fledged Air Traffic
Control unit.
The sequence of events was compiled on the basis of the statement given by the person manning the ATC facility at the airfield.
According to the ministry, on January 28, 2026, the aircraft, identified as VI-SSK, first established contact with Baramati at 0818 hours IST.
Its next radio call came when it was 30 nautical miles inbound to Baramati, after being released by Pune Approach.
At that stage, the crew was advised to descend under Visual Meteorological Conditions at the pilot’s discretion.
Soon after, the crew enquired about prevailing winds and visibility.
They were informed that the winds were calm and the visibility was approximately 3,000 metres.
The aircraft then reported being on final approach for Runway 11, but indicated that the runway was not in sight.
Following this, the crew initiated a go-around on the first approach.
After the go-around manoeuvre, the aircraft was asked to report its position.
The crew responded that they were again on final approach for Runway 11.
They were instructed to report when the runway was in sight. The pilots replied, “Runway is currently not in sight, will call when runway is in sight.”
A few seconds later, they reported that they had visual contact with the runway.
At 0843 hours IST, the aircraft was cleared to land on Runway 11.
However, the ministry noted that the crew did not provide a readback of the landing clearance.
One minute later, at 0844 hours IST, personnel at the airfield observed flames near the threshold of Runway 11.
Emergency services were immediately dispatched to the crash site.
The wreckage was subsequently found on the left side of the runway, abeam the threshold of Runway 11.
AJIT PAWAR DIES IN PLANE CRASH
Soon after the accident, the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) took over the probe, and the Director General of AAIB was travelling to the site to conduct the investigation.
The ministry said further details would be shared as and when they become available.
The accident claimed the lives of all five people on board the Mumbai-to-Baramati charter flight.
Apart from Pawar, the passengers included two of his staff members, a personal security officer and an attendant, along with two crew members.
The crash-landing occurred around 8.45 am at the runway threshold at Baramati airport.
Pawar was travelling to Baramati to attend a public rally for the Zilla Parishad elections when the aircraft went down.
His death has brought an abrupt end to a long and eventful political career spanning more than three decades.
Born on July 22, 1959, in Deolali Pravara in Rahuri taluka of Ahmednagar district, Ajit Pawar was popularly known as “Ajit Dada” for his grassroots connect and straightforward style of politics.
Over the years, he played a key role in cooperative institutions such as milk unions, sugar factories and federations before entering Parliament in 1991 from Baramati.
He later vacated the Lok Sabha seat for his uncle Sharad Pawar and went on to serve multiple terms as an MLA and minister.
Pawar was the longest-serving Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra in non-consecutive terms, having held the post six times across different governments.
He is survived by his wife, Sunetra Pawar, and sons Jay and Parth Pawar.
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