Shocking news came from Maharashtra this morning after a private Learjet operated by Delhi-based VSR Ventures crashed near Baramati, killing Deputy Chief Minister and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief
Ajit Pawar and four others on board.
The five people, including Pawar and his security staff, left early morning from Mumbai and were headed to the deputy CM’s hometown Baramati, where he was expected to address four public meetings ahead of the Zilla Parishad polls in the state.
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The aircraft, Learjet 45, on which Pawar was travelling, was scheduled to take off at 7 AM instead, it took off at 8:10 AM, and the Air Traffic Control (ATC) received information about the crash at 9:12 AM.
It was cleared for landing in Baramati on Wednesday morning after a go-around due to poor visibility, but having finally received a clearance it did not give any read-back to the ATC, and moments later burst into flames on the edge of the runway.
Who All Were Present In The Ill-Fated Aircraft?
According to Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), there were five passengers, including Pawar, his Personal Security Officer and an attendant, along with two crew members (pilot in-command and the first officer) on board.
All five people were killed in the tragic incident. The others killed in the tragedy were Captain Sumit Kapoor, who had a flying experience of 15,000 hours, co-pilot Capt. Shambhavi Pathak with 1,500 hours of flying, Personal Security Officer (PSO) Vidip Jadhav and flight attendant Pinky Mali.
The final phone conversation between Mali and her father, Shivkumar Mali, has emerged following the Baramati plane crash.
Also Read: Who Were The Two Pilots Who Died In The Baramati-Bound Learjet?
Pinky, a resident of Worli in Mumbai, told her father, “Pappa, I am flying to Baramati with Ajit Pawar. After dropping him off, I will head to Nanded. We’ll talk tomorrow.”
Her father responded that they would speak the next day after her work, but the call never came.
Ajit Pawar Last Rites
The Maharashtra government has announced three days of state mourning and declared a public holiday in Ajit Pawar’s honour.
The last rites will be held on Thursday at the Vidya Pratishthan ground in Baramati, an educational institution started by the Pawar family. Preparations for the cremation have already begun at the site. The funeral will take place at 11 am.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah will also be present. The Prime Minister spoke to Sharad Pawar to convey his condolences on the demise of Ajit Pawar. He expressed his grief and sympathy to the family.
The mortal remains of Ajit Pawar are being kept at Vidya Pratishthan School in Baramati today for people to pay their last respects.
