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Nitin Gadkari reaches pune, heads to Baramati for Ajit Pawar’s funeral

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari landed at Pune airport on Thursday and proceeded onward to Baramati to attend the last rites of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar.

Amit Shah to attend Ajit Pawar’s funeral in Baramati

Union Home Minister Amit Shah will be among the senior leaders attending the last rites of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, which will be held with full state honours on Thursday in Baramati, Pune district. The funeral is scheduled around 11 am at the Vidya Pratishthan sports ground, the Nationalist Congress Party said.

Pawar, 66, died on Wednesday morning when a chartered Learjet crashed near the Baramati airstrip, around 100 km from Pune. Two pilots, a flight attendant and his personal security officer were also killed in the accident.

On Thursday morning, Pawar’s mortal remains were moved from Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Hospital in Baramati, where they were kept overnight, to his native Katewadi village. The funeral procession is set to begin at 9 am.

Several political leaders have met the family over the past day. Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and his son Aaditya Thackeray visited the Pawar residence on Thursday, while Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde had earlier called on the family.

Police have registered an accidental death report, which will be handed over to the Maharashtra Criminal Investigation Department following the technical findings of the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau.

(With agency inputs)

Watch: Final journey begins as Ajit Pawar’s hearse leaves Katewadi

The hearse transporting the mortal remains of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar departed from his Katewadi residence, with the final rites scheduled to be held at the Vidya Pratishthan grounds.

Post-mortems completed for pilots killed in Baramati plane crash

Post-mortem procedures for the two pilots of the chartered aircraft that crash-landed at Baramati airport on Wednesday morning have been completed, and their bodies have been released to their families for final rites. The examinations of pilot Captain Sumit Kapoor and co-pilot Captain Shambhavi Pathak were carried out at the Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Holkar Government Medical College in Baramati, following which the remains were formally handed over.

The aircraft, which had departed from Mumbai for Baramati, met with the accident around 8.45 am near the threshold of the runway, killing all five occupants. Those who lost their lives included Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, his personal security officer, an attendant, and the two pilots. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation said the jet was carrying five people, including crew, when it was involved in an accident during its landing attempt, reported ANI.

As investigators work to determine the cause, the Indian Air Force deployed Air Traffic Control personnel and technical equipment from its Lohegaon station to Baramati on the Maharashtra government’s request, establishing emergency ATC services in coordination with local authorities.

Meanwhile, teams from the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau visited the offices of VSR Ventures Pvt Ltd, the aircraft’s operator, seizing logbooks, inspection records and onboard documents. Officials have also sought data from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, along with radar records, CCTV footage and air traffic control communications, for detailed analysis.

Ajit Pawar’s final journey marked by chants of “Dada amar rahe”

Supporters of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar raised slogans of “Ajit Dada amar rahe” as his mortal remains were carried to the Vidya Pratishthan grounds for the final rites. His son Jay Pawar, nephew Rohit Pawar and several other members of the Pawar family were present during the procession.

ADR filed after Baramati crash kills Ajit Pawar, four others

Police have filed an accidental death report in connection with the plane crash that claimed the life of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and four others at Baramati airport in Pune district on Wednesday.

Pawar, 66, was travelling in a chartered Learjet that went down shortly after attempting to land at the table-top runway. The aircraft crashed barely 200 metres from the runway’s edge during the morning hours, killing everyone on board.

“We have registered an accidental death report (ADR) with the Baramati taluka police station,” a senior officer from Pune rural police said. As per established procedure, the case will be transferred to the Maharashtra Criminal Investigation Department once formal orders are issued.

A CID official explained that when an accident involves a senior public figure, the investigation is typically handled by the CID. “We have not yet received any orders. However, it is likely that CID will receive the orders and will conduct the probe into the ADR registered with the local police,” he said.

The technical investigation is already being led by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau, which operates under the Civil Aviation Ministry.

The other victims were pilot Sumit Kapoor, who had logged over 15,000 flying hours, co-pilot Shambhavi Pathak, personal security officer Vidip Jadhav and flight attendant Pinky Mali.

According to the government’s preliminary account, the aircraft aborted its first landing attempt due to low visibility. After receiving clearance on the second approach, no read-back was received by air traffic control. Moments later, flames were seen near the runway threshold.

(With agency inputs)

Saamana says Ajit Pawar’s death leaves Maharashtra politics weakened

The Shiv Sena (UBT) mouthpiece Saamana on Thursday mourned the death of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, calling his passing a personal and political loss that has left the State diminished. In an editorial marked by both grief and reflection, Pawar was portrayed as a leader who transcended lineage to establish his own authority in Maharashtra’s public life.

Though he entered politics as the nephew of Sharad Pawar, the editorial said Ajit Pawar steadily shaped an independent course through his work and decisions. “Ajit Dada was always on the move, constantly travelling. Now he has embarked on a journey from which he will never return,” Saamana wrote, adding that his sudden death had created a void across Maharashtra’s social and political fabric, reported ANI.

Describing him as forthright and exacting, the paper noted his insistence on discipline, punctuality and results. Empty assurances were alien to his style. As the editorial recalled, he would often say, “Let’s see how you get elected,” and then ensure it happened.

Saamana likened Pawar to “a vast umbrella under which thousands found shelter,” warning that many who now depend on him face uncertainty. With leaders such as Pramod Mahajan, Gopinath Munde, Vilasrao Deshmukh and RR Patil already gone, the paper said it felt as if Marathi politics had fallen under a shadow. “With Ajit Pawar’s absence,” it concluded, “politics in Maharashtra appears weaker, slower and without direction.”

Final cockpit words heard before Ajit Pawar's plane crash in Baramati

Investigators reviewing the crash of a Learjet 45 at Baramati airstrip on Wednesday say the final cockpit audio captured a startled expletive moments before the aircraft went down, killing all five people on board. Those who died included Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, 66, his personal security officer, an aide, and the two flight crew: pilot-in-command Sumit Kapur and first officer Shambhavi Pathak.

The Delhi-based VSR Ventures Pvt Ltd aircraft was attempting to land for the second time at the table-top runway around 8.45 am. A senior official familiar with the probe said the brief transmission was the last sound heard from the cockpit, reported NDTV.

According to aviation authorities, the jet had contacted Baramati at 8.18 am and was advised on weather conditions. After aborting its first approach when the runway was not visible, the crew attempted a second landing. Although clearance was issued at 8.43 am, air traffic control did not receive a confirmation. A minute later, flames were spotted near the runway threshold. A team from the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau has begun a detailed examination of the wreckage.

Raj Thackeray pays last respects to Ajit Pawar at Katewadi residence

MNS chief Raj Thackeray arrives at Katewadi residence of Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar to pay last respects to him. The Learjet transporting him had earlier aborted its approach at Baramati on Wednesday morning because of low visibility. When it later received permission to land, air traffic control did not get a read-back from the crew, and shortly afterwards, the aircraft went up in flames near the edge of the runway.

Watch: Sharad Pawar attends Ajit Pawar’s last rites at Vidya Pratishthan

NCP (SCP) leader Sharad Pawar reached the Vidya Pratishthan grounds to attend the final rites of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar.