View source for 2026 Baramati Learjet 45 crash

{{Short description|2026 aviation accident in India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2026}}{{Use Indian English|date=January 2026}}
{{Infobox aircraft occurrence
| date            = 28 January 2026
| image           = 2026 Baramati Learjet 45 crash CCTV 2.jpg
| caption         = A [[CCTV]] still of the aircraft seconds before crashing
| summary         = Loss of control, under investigation
| site            = [[Baramati Airport]], [[Baramati]], [[Pune district]], [[Maharashtra]], India
| plane1_image    = N80PQ (51210994626).jpg
| plane1_caption  = The aircraft involved in the accident, while still in service with a previous operator in 2021
| occurrence_type = Accident
| aircraft_type   = [[Learjet 45|Learjet 45XR]]
| operator        = [[VSR Ventures]] 
| origin          = [[Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport]], [[Mumbai]], India
| destination     = [[Baramati Airport]], [[Baramati]], India
| occupants       = 5
| tail_number     = VT-SSK
| passengers      = 2
| crew            = 3
| fatalities      = 5
| survivors       = 0
}}
On 28 January 2026, a [[Learjet 45]] operated by [[VSR Ventures]] crashed during a [[charter flight]] from [[Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport]] in [[Mumbai]] to [[Baramati Airport]] in [[Maharashtra]], India, killing the [[Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra]], [[Ajit Pawar]], as well as all four other occupants. The crash was determined to be in low visibility and heavy [[fog]].

==Background==
=== Aircraft ===
The aircraft involved was a VT-SSK, a 16-year-old [[Learjet 45|Learjet 45XR]] operated by [[VSR Ventures]].<ref name="HT">{{Cite news |date=28 January 2026 |title=Ajit Pawar plane crash live updates: Maharashtra CM Fadnavis announces three-day state mourning after Pawar's death |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/ajit-pawar-news-live-updates-plane-crash-maharashtra-deputy-cm-health-baramati-latest-news-101769572584405.html |work=[[Hindustan Times]] |access-date=28 January 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=VT-SSK – Learjet 45XR |url=https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/vt-ssk |publisher=[[Flightradar24]] |access-date=28 January 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Learjet 45 XR involved in Baramati plane crash had previous accident history |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2026/Jan/28/learjet-45-xr-involved-in-baramati-plane-crash-had-previous-accident-history |website=The New Indian Express |access-date=28 January 2025 |language=en |date=28 January 2026 |archive-date=30 January 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260130073139/https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2026/Jan/28/learjet-45-xr-involved-in-baramati-plane-crash-had-previous-accident-history |url-status=live }}</ref> VSR Aviation provides charter and medivac flights.<ref>{{Cite web |title=VSR Aviation |url=https://vsraviation.com/ |access-date=28 January 2026 |publisher=VSR Aviation |archive-date=15 November 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251115001802/https://vsraviation.com/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Passengers and crew===
There were five people onboard the flight. The pilot was Sumit Kapur, who had logged 16,500 flight hours. The co-pilot was identified as Shambhavi Pathak. The flight attendant was identified as Pinky Mali. The passengers were identified as [[Ajit Pawar]], the [[List of deputy chief ministers of Maharashtra|deputy chief minister of Maharashtra]], and his personal security officer, Vidip Jadhav.<ref>{{Cite web |date=28 January 2026 |title=Maharashtra Dy CM Ajit Pawar, four others killed after plane crash in Baramati |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/maharashtra/maharashtra-dy-cm-ajit-pawars-aircraft-crashes-in-baramati/article70559338.ece |website=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=28 January 2026 |archive-date=28 January 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260128043818/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/maharashtra/maharashtra-dy-cm-ajit-pawars-aircraft-crashes-in-baramati/article70559338.ece |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=28 January 2026 |title=Ajit Pawar Plane Crash Live updates: 'Dada was a man of his word': Fadnavis pays tribute to Ajit Pawar; 3-day state mourning declared |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/pune/ajit-pawar-plane-crash-live-updates-maharashtra-deputy-cm-baramati-hospital/liveblog/127675224.cms |access-date=28 January 2026 |work=[[The Times of India]]}}</ref> Kapur was not intended to be present, and filled in for a friend who had been stuck in traffic.<ref>{{Cite news |date=30 January 2026 |title=Captain Sumit Kapoor Wasn't Supposed To Fly Ajit Pawar Plane That Day: Friend |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/ajit-pawar-dies-in-plane-crash-captain-sumit-kapoor-wasnt-supposed-to-fly-ajit-pawar-plane-that-day-friends-10908930 |access-date=30 January 2026 |publisher=[[NDTV]] |archive-date=30 January 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260130031535/https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/ajit-pawar-dies-in-plane-crash-captain-sumit-kapoor-wasnt-supposed-to-fly-ajit-pawar-plane-that-day-friends-10908930 |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Accident ==
At approximately 08:46 [[Indian Standard Time|IST]] ([[UTC+5:30]]), the aircraft crashed into an open field while attempting a second approach to runway 11 at [[Baramati Airport]]. The aircraft veered off the runway, burst into flames, and was destroyed on impact, resulting in the deaths of Pawar and four others on board.<ref>{{Cite news |date=28 January 2026 |title=Ajit Pawar's Flight Crash in Baramati |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLtRr4dlpFs |publisher=[[CNN-News18]] |access-date=28 January 2026 |archive-date=28 January 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260128072958/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLtRr4dlpFs |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.lokmat.com/maharashtra/maharashtra-deputy-chief-minister-ajit-pawar-dies-in-horrific-plane-crash-near-baramati-a-a301/ |title=Ajit Pawar Passed Away: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister dies in plane crash near Baramati |work=[[Lokmat]] |date=28 January 2026 |access-date=28 January 2026 |archive-date=28 January 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260128050518/https://www.lokmat.com/maharashtra/maharashtra-deputy-chief-minister-ajit-pawar-dies-in-horrific-plane-crash-near-baramati-a-a301/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=28 January 2026 |title=Air charter crash in India's Maharashtra kills key state leader |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/india/deputy-chief-minister-indias-maharashtra-dies-plane-crash-tv-channels-say-2026-01-28/ |access-date=28 January 2026 |publisher=[[Reuters]]}}</ref> The pilot issued a warning minutes before the crash.<ref name="Independent">{{Cite news |date=28 January 2026 |title=Pilot issued warning minutes before Ajit Pawar plane crash |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/bulletin/news/ajit-pawar-plane-crashed-india-cause-pilot-warning-b2909448.html |access-date=30 January 2026 |work=[[The Independent]]}}</ref> [[CCTV]] footage showed the aircraft flipping, losing control, crashing and exploding.<ref>{{Cite news |date=28 January 2026 |title=Steep descent, then fireball: New video shows moment Ajit Pawar's plane crashed |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/steep-descend-then-fireball-new-video-captures-moment-ajit-pawars-plane-crashed-2859276-2026-01-28 |access-date=28 January 2026 |work=[[India Today]] |archive-date=28 January 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260128183057/https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/steep-descend-then-fireball-new-video-captures-moment-ajit-pawars-plane-crashed-2859276-2026-01-28 |url-status=live }}</ref> At the time of the incident, Ajit Pawar was travelling to [[Baramati]] to address multiple public meetings in connection with the upcoming [[District council (India)|Zilla Parishad]] elections.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wable |first=Omkar |date=28 January 2026 |title=Ajit Pawar, 4 others killed in plane crash in Baramati: What we know so far |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/plane-carrying-maharashtra-deputy-cm-ajit-pawar-crashes-during-landing-more-details-awaited-2858806-2026-01-28 |website=[[India Today]] |access-date=28 January 2026 |archive-date=28 January 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260128094439/https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/plane-carrying-maharashtra-deputy-cm-ajit-pawar-crashes-during-landing-more-details-awaited-2858806-2026-01-28 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Aftermath==
[[Devendra Fadnavis]], the [[chief minister of Maharashtra]], announced three days of state mourning. He went on to describe the incident as "an immeasurable loss". The loss was announced by half flaring of flag of India for the next three days after the accident.<ref name="HT" />

Indian Prime Minister [[Narendra Modi]] posted on [[Twitter|X (formerly, Twitter)]] that he was saddened by news of the crash and also paid tribute to Pawar.<ref name="BBC">{{Cite web |date=28 January 2026 |title=Ajit Pawar: Veteran Indian politician dies in plane crash |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cd6wp7npz86t |access-date=28 January 2026 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB |archive-date=28 January 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260128074041/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cd6wp7npz86t |url-status=live }}</ref>

Tributes came in from across the political spectrum including from [[Devendra Fadnavis]], [[Rahul Gandhi]], [[Amit Shah]] and [[Sanjay Raut]].<ref name="BBC" /> Thousands of his followers and supporters filled the streets of Baramati for his funeral, where he was cremated with full state honours. Among the attendees was Shah.<ref>{{Cite news |date=29 January 2026 |title=Veteran Indian politician Ajit Pawar dies in plane crash, leaving power vacuum |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jan/29/ajit-pawar-indian-politician-killed-in-plane-crash |access-date=30 January 2026 |work=[[The Guardian]]}}</ref>

VK Singh, the owner of VSR Ventures, claimed technical failure was unlikely and low visibility was the primary factor behind the incident.<ref>{{Cite web|date=28 January 2026 |title=V.K. Singh: 'Aircraft Was Absolutely Fit, Low Visibility Likely Caused The Crash' |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/video/vk-singh-aircraft-was-absolutely-fit-low-visibility-likely-caused-the-crash-ytvd-2859004-2026-01-28 |access-date=28 January 2026 |website=India Today |language=en}}</ref>

==Investigation==
The [[Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (India)|Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau]] arrived at the scene and is investigating the cause.<ref>{{Cite news |date=28 January 2026 |title=Ajit Pawar plane crash updates: AAIB team reaches Baramati; launches forensic probe |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/india/maharashtra/baramati-plane-crash-live-updates-maharashtra-deputy-cm-ajit-pawar-among-6-dead-live-plane-crash-3876947 |access-date=28 January 2026 |work=[[Deccan Herald]] |archive-date=30 January 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260130073118/https://www.deccanherald.com/india/maharashtra/baramati-plane-crash-live-updates-maharashtra-deputy-cm-ajit-pawar-among-6-dead-live-plane-crash-3876947 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=28 January 2026 |title=Ajit Pawar LIVE: Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau To Probe Cause Of Crash |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/ajit-pawar-plane-crash-live-updates-emergency-landing-of-ncp-leaders-aircraft-in-baramati-maharashtra-deputy-chief-minister-10897305#516440 |access-date=28 January 2026 |publisher=[[NDTV]] |archive-date=28 January 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260128143244/https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/ajit-pawar-plane-crash-live-updates-emergency-landing-of-ncp-leaders-aircraft-in-baramati-maharashtra-deputy-chief-minister-10897305#516440 |url-status=live }}</ref>  The [[flight recorder]] was recovered from the crash site.<ref>{{Cite news |date=30 January 2026 |title=Ajit Pawar plane crash: Black box recovered; govt assures time-bound probe – what we know so far |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/ajit-pawar-plane-crash-black-box-recovered-govt-assures-time-bound-probe-what-we-know-so-far/articleshow/127760184.cms |access-date=30 January 2026 |work=[[The Times of India]]}}</ref> Local media cited poor visibility as a potential cause for the crash.<ref name="Independent" />

On 25 February 2026, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) noted concerns about airworthiness oversight, flight operations, and flight management systems and grounded four Learjet aircraft of the operator VSR Ventures.<ref>{{cite news |title=DGCA grounds 4 VSR aircraft after Baramati crash, tightens charter safety rules |url=https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/national/dgca-grounds-four-vsr-aircraft-after-baramati-crash-tightens-charter-safety-rules |access-date=25 February 2026 |publisher=National Herald |date=24 February 2026}}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

{{Aviation accidents and incidents in 2026}}
{{Aviation accidents and incidents in India}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Baramati Learjet 45 crash, 2026}}
[[Category:2026 disasters in India]]
[[Category:January 2026 in India]]
[[Category:2020s in Maharashtra]]
[[Category:Aviation accidents and incidents in 2026]]
[[Category:Aviation accidents and incidents in India]]
[[Category:Aviation accidents and incidents involving the Learjet 45 family]]
[[Category:Baramati|2026 Learjet 45 crash]]
[[Category:Filmed deaths during aviation accidents and incidents]]
[[Category:Filmed deaths in Asia]]
[[Category:History of Pune district]]