Who were Ajit Pawar plane's pilots flying Maharashtra Deputy CM's last flight?

MAHARASHTRA Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar took his last flight from Mumbai. The 8th Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, along with Eknath Shinde under Devendra Fadnavis-led government, was onboard Learjet 45 aircraft.

The senior NCP leader took off on a private charter flight with 5 others on Wednesday morning when his plane crash-landed near Baramati airstrip, a few minutes before the planned landing. The aircraft bearing number “VTSSKLJ45” was operated by VSR Ventures Pvt Ltd.

The plane departed from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport at 8:11 AM on Wednesday. According to Air Traffic Control (ATC), the aircraft “R120/109 miles from Mumbai” and was scheduled to reach Baramati. The plane crash-landed at 8:45 am, a few minutes away from the destination.

DGCA confirms death of all onboard Learjet 45

In addition to the 66-year-old Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader, one Personal Security Officer (PSO), one attendant and two pilots were onboard, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) confirmed. All of them died in the fatal crash. They were identified as Vidip Jadhav, attendant Pinki Mali and PSO Sumit Kapoor. The crew included Captain Sahil Madan the Pilot-in-Command (PIC) and the First Officer (FO) Shambhavi Pathak.

Over the mishap at Baramati airport, the aviation regulator said, “As per initial information, all five persons onboard the aircraft have succumbed to the injuries sustained in the crash."

Visuals from the site show the plane gutted following the crash landing. The plane was attempting a second approach to Baramati Airport when it crashed, according to flight tracking website Flightradar24.

“The aircraft VT SSK was attempting a landing, and the aircraft went off the side of the runway and crashed,” HT quoted Baramati airport manager Shivaji Taware as saying.

Ajit Pawar was scheduled to attend a public rally in his hometown ahead of the Zilla Parishad Elections. The longest-serving Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra non-consecutively is survived by his wife, Sunetra Pawar and two sons, Jay and Parth Pawar.

Mourning the major loss, Ajit Pawar’s brother Shriniwas Pawar said, “Its very sad moment for us. No one survived the crash. My son Yugendra is in the hospital at Baramati. We are all headed to Baramati. The last rites will be in Baramati.”

Ajit Pawar's wife and his sister Supriya Sule are heading to Baramati for last rites