Six people were reportedly on board the small aircraft that crashed in Maharashtra's Baramati, allegedly claiming the life of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) icon Ajit Pawar.
The details about the aircraft make or model that the Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister was on board have not been officially released in the initial coverage. No credible source has specified which exact plane — aircraft type or registration — he was on at the time. Official statements on the aircraft’s identity were still pending at the time of compiling this report.
READ HERE | Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar dies in plane crash
However, local media reports citing Air Traffic Control (ATC) sources and aviation officials have reported that the aircraft involved was a Learjet 45, operated by VSR, bearing registration VT-SSK. The aircraft had taken off from Mumbai at around 8:10 AM and was attempting to land at Baramati when the tragic accident occurred.
Learjet 45 jet planes
The Bombardier Learjet 45 is a midsize business jet aircraft introduced in January 1998. It is designed for speedy and comfortable short- to mid-range flights.
Learjet 45's cabin is typically designed for eight passengers in a double club configuration. An extra passenger can be seated in the enclosed lavatory if required.
According to a report by Air Charter Service, the production of the Learjet 45 ended in 2007, with the Learjet 45XR ceasing in 2012. Learjet 45 is powered by two Honeywell TFE731-20AR engines with 3,500 pounds of thrust, the report added.
The aircraft has a tail height of 14 ft 1 in (4.3 m), a wingspan of 47 ft 9 in (14.6 m), and a length of 57 ft 7 in (17.6 m), with a maximum take-off weight of 20,500 lbs (9,299 kg). It has a long-range capability of 1,420 nautical miles (2,630 km), a maximum cruise speed of 460 knots (852 km/h), and a service ceiling of 51,000 ft (15,545 m). The aircraft requires a take-off distance of 4,400 ft (1,341 m) and a landing distance of 2,440 ft (744 m).
Ajit Pawar passes away
Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Ajit Pawar, who defected from his parent party to join the BJP-Shiv Sena-led government in Maharashtra in 2024, tragically died in a plane crash on Wednesday morning. His death comes at a time when reports suggested a potential thaw between the two warring factions of the NCP, with speculation about his possible return to the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance.
As per initial reports, five others, including his two personal assistants and two pilots, died in the accident. The incident occurred after the aircraft he was traveling on landed belly up before catching fire.
Footage doing the rounds on social media showed the light aircraft on fire in a deserted field. The wreckage was scattered across the area, with flames and thick smoke billowing after the crash.
