- 11:14 AM (IST) 28 Jan 2026Latest
Akhilesh Yadav expresses grief over Ajit Pawar’s death
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav said he was deeply saddened by the incident, calling it “an extremely painful moment for the Pawar family.” He added that he was praying for them to be given the strength to endure their loss.
From a legal perspective, such statements of condolence do not affect the formal processes that follow an air accident, which are governed by India’s civil aviation laws and require an independent investigation into the cause of the crash and the determination of any liability or statutory compensation.
- 11:12 AM (IST) 28 Jan 2026
Eyewitness reports explosions after Ajit Pawar’s chartered jet crashes in Baramati
A chartered aircraft carrying Maharashtra deputy chief minister and NCP leader Ajit Pawar crashed on Wednesday morning while attempting an emergency landing at Baramati airport, killing all five people on board, officials said. A local resident who saw the incident told ANI that the plane appeared to be losing control during its descent and exploded shortly after hitting the ground.
From a legal standpoint, the crash will be investigated under India’s civil aviation framework by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau and the DGCA to determine the cause, including any mechanical failure or operational lapses. The findings could have implications for regulatory compliance, operator liability and compensation claims by the victims’ families.
- 11:08 AM (IST) 28 Jan 2026
Learjet 45 involved in Baramati crash: key details
India’s aviation regulator, the DGCA, said the aircraft that crash-landed in Baramati was a Learjet 45, a mid-size business jet manufactured by Bombardier Aerospace. The model was developed in the 1990s for the “super-light” business jet market and to compete with aircraft such as the Cessna Citation Excel/XLS. It has a range of about 1,971 nautical miles (around 3,650 km) at a cruising speed of Mach 0.81.
The jet was being operated by VSR Aviation, a private charter company founded by V K Singh. The firm is registered in New Delhi, with its office in Mahipalpur, and advertises charter flights tailored for corporate travellers and routes not served by commercial airlines. It also offers aviation consultancy, spare-parts sourcing, aircraft management and liaison services with government bodies including the Ministry of Civil Aviation, Ministry of Home Affairs, DGCA, DGFT, BCAS and the Airports Authority of India, as well as services such as jet leasing, air ambulances and empty-leg flights.
The aircraft involved was registered as VT-SSK. Five people were on board: Ajit Pawar, two members of his staff including a personal security officer and an attendant, and two crew members, the pilot in command and the first officer. The flight was travelling from Mumbai to Baramati when it crash-landed. The cause of the accident is not yet known.
Under Indian aviation law, the crash will be investigated by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau and the DGCA to determine technical, operational or regulatory failures. Depending on the findings, liability could arise for the operator, maintenance providers or other parties, and the victims’ families may be entitled to statutory compensation and to pursue civil claims if negligence is established.
- 11:07 AM (IST) 28 Jan 2026
President Murmu calls Ajit Pawar’s death an ‘irreparable loss’
President Droupadi Murmu said she was deeply saddened by the plane crash in Baramati, Maharashtra, that killed several people, including the state’s deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar. She described his death as an irreparable loss and said he would be remembered for his significant contribution to Maharashtra’s development, particularly in the cooperative sector. The president conveyed her condolences to Pawar’s family, supporters and admirers, and expressed sympathy for the families of all others who died in the accident, praying they find strength to cope with the tragedy.
From a legal perspective, such an accident triggers mandatory investigations under Indian aviation law by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation and the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau, while the deaths may also give rise to compensation claims under civil liability and insurance frameworks applicable to air crashes.
- 11:07 AM (IST) 28 Jan 2026
Earlier crash involved same charter firm’s Learjet in 2023
The aircraft operator linked to the plane crash that killed Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar has been involved in a previous accident in the state, making this the second incident connected to VSR Ventures in about two and a half years. The earlier crash, however, caused no deaths.
That incident took place on 14 September 2023 in Mumbai and involved a VSR Ventures-owned Learjet 45 XR, registration VT-DBL, operating a non-scheduled passenger flight from Visakhapatnam to Mumbai with six passengers on board. The aircraft departed normally and the flight was uneventful until arrival.
It was cleared to land on Runway 27 at around 5 pm, when heavy rain and poor visibility affected Mumbai airport. During landing, the jet drifted to the right of the runway towards Apron C. Around 40 seconds after the autopilot was disengaged, a stick shaker and stall warning activated, followed by EGPWS alerts, after which the aircraft crash-landed near the intersection of Taxiways W and N.
The fuselage split into two and skidded to a halt on an unpaved area near stand C80, close to Taxiways U and N. A fire broke out but was extinguished by airport fire services, and all occupants were evacuated with injuries.
Legally, repeated accidents involving the same operator can trigger enhanced scrutiny by India’s aviation regulator under the Aircraft Act and DGCA safety oversight rules, including audits of maintenance practices, pilot training and operational procedures, and may also strengthen the basis for civil liability claims by victims’ families and insurers in the current case.
- 11:05 AM (IST) 28 Jan 2026
Kharge and Priyanka Gandhi express shock over Ajit Pawar’s death
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said on X that the incident was “deeply shocking and profoundly distressing”, calling it the untimely loss of a leader with a long and promising political career ahead. He said no words could capture the grief of the bereaved family, offered condolences to the Pawar family, supporters and well wishers, and said Ajit Pawar would be remembered for serving Maharashtra in several constitutional roles with sincerity and astuteness.
Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra told the PTI news agency that the news was “very sad” and conveyed her condolences and sympathies to the Pawar family and their supporters, adding that she had spoken to Supriya Sule and Sunetra Pawar.
From a legal perspective, such statements follow the formal recognition of death by the competent authority, which is necessary before state protocols, succession processes and any official inquiries, including the statutory aviation accident investigation, can proceed under Indian law.
- 11:05 AM (IST) 28 Jan 2026
Sharad Pawar departs for Baramati after Ajit Pawar’s death
NCP SP chief Sharad Pawar has left his residence for Baramati following the death of Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar. Pawar’s wife, Sunetra Pawar, and his sister, Supriya Sule, are also travelling to Baramati.
From a legal and administrative standpoint, the death of a sitting deputy chief minister triggers formal state protocols, including official confirmation of the vacancy, notification to the governor, and the initiation of constitutional procedures to appoint a successor. Separately, any travel or access to the crash site and hospital areas is expected to be regulated by local authorities to preserve evidence for the statutory aviation accident investigation.
- 11:04 AM (IST) 28 Jan 2026
Amit Shah says Ajit Pawar’s death is a “personal loss” to NDA
Union home minister Amit Shah said he was “deeply distressed” by the death of Maharashtra’s deputy chief minister and NCP leader Ajit Pawar in the air crash. Shah described Pawar as a senior colleague in the NDA who had devoted more than three decades to public welfare in Maharashtra, recalling their long discussions on issues affecting the state. He said Pawar’s passing was not only a loss to the NDA but also a personal loss to him, and offered condolences to the Pawar family, adding that the alliance stood with them in their grief.
From a legal perspective, the incident will be investigated under India’s aviation safety framework, including by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation and other statutory bodies. Institutionally, the Maharashtra government must follow constitutional procedures to fill the vacancy in the office of deputy chief minister and ensure continuity of executive authority.
- 11:03 AM (IST) 28 Jan 2026
PM Modi mourns Ajit Pawar, hails him as “a leader of the people”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep grief over the death of Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar, describing him as a mass leader with strong grassroots connections and a reputation for tireless public service. Modi said Pawar was widely respected for his administrative understanding and commitment to uplifting the poor and marginalised, calling his death “shocking and deeply saddening”, and extended condolences to his family and admirers.
From a legal standpoint, Pawar’s death in an air crash will trigger a mandatory investigation under India’s civil aviation laws by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation and other statutory authorities. Constitutionally, the Maharashtra government will also have to follow prescribed procedures to manage the vacancy in the office of deputy chief minister and ensure continuity of executive functions in line with state and federal law.
- 10:59 AM (IST) 28 Jan 2026
Ajit Pawar's death is not an ordinary one!
The country awoke on 28 January 2026 to profoundly shocking news: Ajit Pawar, the deputy chief minister of Maharashtra, died when the chartered aircraft carrying him crashed while attempting to land at Baramati Airport, in Pune district. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has confirmed that no survivors were found from the Learjet 45 aircraft’s crash, marking one of the most high-profile civil aviation fatalities in recent Indian history.
The country awoke on 28 January 2026 to profoundly shocking news: Ajit Pawar, the deputy chief minister of Maharashtra, died when the chartered aircraft carrying him crashed while attempting to land at Baramati Airport, in Pune district. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has confirmed that no survivors were found from the Learjet 45 aircraft’s crash, marking one of the most high-profile civil aviation fatalities in recent Indian history.
Pawar, a veteran politician aged 66, was on his way to his hometown to attend and address a series of public meetings ahead of the Zilla Parishad elections when the accident occurred. He was accompanied by security personnel and flight crew; all occupants perished as the aircraft veered off the runway during landing and burst into flames.
The immediate human tragedy is beyond dispute, and condolences from leaders across the political spectrum — including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who described Pawar as a “leader of the people” and personally reached out to the Maharashtra chief minister — underscore the enormity of the loss. Yet beyond grief and ritual homage, this calamity raises urgent legal and regulatory questions about aviation safety, oversight compliance, corporate accountability and the interplay between private aviation and public office.
Under Indian law, the DGCA is the statutory regulator tasked with ensuring aviation safety, including aircraft certification, pilot licensing, airport operations and enforcement of civil aviation standards. Its mandate derives from the Aircraft Rules, 1937, and the contemporary regulatory framework embodied in the Aircraft Act, 1934. This tragedy will compel intense scrutiny of whether all statutory requirements were met at every level: from the operational fitness of the aircraft, to pilot qualifications, to the adequacy of Baramati’s runway infrastructure and emergency response protocols.
The Learjet 45 involved, registered VT-SSK, was reportedly operated by VSR Ventures Private Limited and chartered from Mumbai. While private charter flights are lawful and common, they remain subject to the same rigorous safety standards as scheduled airlines. Any deviation — even in auxiliary areas like charter company insurance coverage, pilot duty hours or maintenance recordkeeping — could have legal ramifications under Indian civil aviation law. These obligations encompass not just contractual duties between operator and passenger, but also public regulatory duties aimed at safeguarding third parties, including rescue personnel and airport staff.
A crucial aspect of legal scrutiny will be the preliminary DGCA occurrence report and subsequent investigation. In every aviation accident, regulators undertake a fact-finding process that examines mechanical failure, environmental conditions, air traffic control communications and human factors such as pilot training and decision-making. The DGCA’s findings could lead to enforcement actions, including suspension of licences, fines or recommendations for criminal inquiry if negligence is found. At the heart of such legal examination is the principle that aviation safety is not an abstract aspiration but a legally enforceable public interest obligation.
Beyond domestic aviation law, there are governance implications at the intersection of state functions and private aviation. Ajit Pawar held a public office with significant responsibilities; his travel arrangements and the decision to use private charter services involve layers of institutional decision-making and risk assessment. The Maharashtra government’s own protocols for the official travel of elected officials could come under legal review to assess whether due diligence and risk mitigation measures were properly implemented, including whether alternative travel arrangements would have been less hazardous.
Importantly, this tragedy may shine a spotlight on the regulation of regional airport infrastructure. Baramati Airport, a facility that has been developed under a public-private model, must now also be scrutinised for compliance with airport certification standards mandated under international norms such as those promulgated by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), to which India is a signatory. Runway safety, navigational aids, emergency response preparedness and air traffic services are all subject to ICAO Annexes that India is bound to uphold as a matter of treaty obligation. Failures at this level could implicate compliance deficiencies with internationally accepted standards.
In the square of public law, the government’s duty of care to citizens — including high-ranking public officers — intersects with constitutional guarantees of life and personal liberty under the Indian Constitution, demanding accountability and transparency in the investigation process. Families of victims, including Pawar’s wife Sunetra and his sister Supriya Sule who is also a parliamentarian, will inevitably seek closure and answers that are grounded in evidence and legal accountability rather than political rhetoric or speculation.
The broader political context adds further legal texture. Ajit Pawar was not only deputy chief minister but a figure with a long legacy in Maharashtra politics, having represented Baramati and its surrounds at multiple levels of governance. His sudden death alters the political arithmetic of the state and raises questions about succession, stability and continuity of administration. Legal frameworks governing state executive succession, the exercise of deputy chief ministerial functions during interim periods, and the conduct of ensuing elections will now be activated, with attendant constitutional and statutory layers to be navigated.
In analysing this event against the landscape of real-time scenarios, it is clear that what might superficially appear as a tragic accident is, in the legal domain, a multilayered subject requiring meticulous scrutiny across domestic aviation regulation, international safety obligations, government duty of care, and constitutional governance. Each legal axis demands not only investigation but systematic reform to ensure that the loss of life — particularly of a public servant — catalyses improvements rather than being relegated to the archive of unexamined tragedy.
As investigations unfold, transparency from aviation authorities, judicial supervision where necessary, and adherence to both national law and international standards will be essential to honour the memory of Ajit Pawar and to prevent future such calamities. This is not merely a matter of administrative procedure, but of legal accountability and institutional integrity in one of the most complex and consequential domains of public safety.