In a shocking development, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and five other persons died after an aircraft carrying them crashed in Pune district on Wednesday morning.
According to reports, the plane crash took place when a Learjet 45 aircraft (registration VT-SSK), operated by VSR, was landing in Pune's Baramati area.
Initial information suggests that the aircraft lost control at the time of landing at the Baramati airport and during the descent, the plane crashed‑landed.
DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation) stated that Ajit Pawar, Deputy CM of Maharashtra, was onboard along with 2 more personnel (1 PSO and 1 attendant) and 2 crew (PIC+FO) members. As per initial information, no person on board has survived the crash.
Deputy CM Pawar’s family rushed to the accident site. Incidentally, his wife and party MP Sunetra, and son, Parth, were set to leave for Baramati from Delhi, along with the leader's cousin, and NCP-SP working president Supriya Sule.
Amid ongoing elections to the Zilla Parishads and Panchayat Samitis, Dy CM Ajit Pawar was travelling from Mumbai to Baramati to attend a public meeting.
Emergency services and senior security officials have reached the site in Baramati. Rescue teams were deployed immediately after the aircraft lost control during the landing phase.
Three bodies were rushed to the Baramati Medical College. The identification of the bodies is underway, as per the Pune Superintendent of Police (SP).
A team of DGCA officials has arrived at the plane crash site.
More details were awaited about the plane crash. Reports said that locals had rushed to the spot on seeing the plane crashing.
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi said, "This is very shocking, painful and heart-rending. There have been differences between us, but we have worked together. He was a really committed man who kept to his work. I express my sympathies to Pawar sahab, Supriya ji, Sunetra ji, Parth and Jay. I also express sympathies to lakhs and crores of people in Baramati...Going away like this is very painful..."