Ajit Pawar Baramati Plane Crash: Deputy CM’s Body Identified by Wristwatch After Fatal Aircraft Accident
Ajit Pawar Death: Six Feared Dead in Accident, But Only Five Bodies Found — Close Aide Raises Five Critical Questions
Baramati Plane Crash News: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and NCP president Ajit Pawar died after the aircraft he was travelling in crash-landed while attempting to land at Baramati Airport on Wednesday morning. According to sources, Pawar’s body was identified with the help of his wristwatch recovered from the crash site.
The Learjet 46 aircraft, operated by Delhi-based VSR Ventures, had taken off from Mumbai and was en route to Baramati when the accident occurred around 8:45 am. The plane reportedly lost control during landing and caught fire after impact. A total of five people, including Ajit Pawar, were killed in the crash. The other victims included his personal security officer, an attendant, and two crew members — the pilot in command and the first officer.
Sources said that after the crash, authorities faced difficulties in identifying the victims due to the severity of the fire. Personal belongings such as jewellery, accessories and wristwatches were used to establish identities. In Pawar’s case, his body was identified based on a distinctive wristwatch he was known to wear regularly.
Preliminary information suggests that the wristwatch had a classic, premium design with a metal strap and a large dial. It reportedly featured a two-tone finish with silver and gold elements, a style commonly referred to as a “two-tone watch.” Such watches, known for their luxury appeal, typically combine gold-toned and silver-toned metal straps with a light-coloured or blue dial, giving them a timeless and recognisable look.
Ironically, the Nationalist Congress Party’s official election symbol is a clock, a detail that several sources noted while confirming the identification.
Ajit Pawar, 66, was travelling to Baramati to attend official programmes and public meetings in connection with the upcoming local body elections scheduled for February 5. He is survived by his wife Sunetra Pawar, a Rajya Sabha member, and his two sons, Parth and Jay.
Sequence of Events Leading to the Crash
The Ministry of Civil Aviation, in an official statement, said the aircraft first established contact near Baramati at 8:18 am. The crew was advised to descend under visual meteorological conditions, as winds were calm and visibility was reported to be around 3,000 metres.
During the first approach to Runway 11, the crew reported that the runway was not in sight and initiated a go-around. On the second approach, they informed air traffic control that the runway was visible. The aircraft was cleared to land at 8:43 am, but officials noted that the crew did not provide a mandatory read-back of the landing clearance.
At 8:44 am, air traffic control observed flames near the threshold of Runway 11, confirming that the aircraft had crashed.
An investigation has been initiated to determine the exact cause of the crash.
