The pilot of the aircraft carrying Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar and four others informed Air Traffic Control that the runway was clearly visible moments before the plane crashed and burst into flames in Baramati on Wednesday, according to people familiar with the matter. They added that no SOS or distress call was issued before the crash.
None of the occupants survived the accident. Footage from the site showed thick plumes of smoke rising from the burning aircraft, with debris scattered across the area.
Pawar was on his way to address a rural election rally in Baramati, his family stronghold located around 250 kilometres from Mumbai.
Air Traffic Control at Baramati is handled on alternate days by two flying schools, Redbird and Carver Aviation. On Wednesday, ATC operations were managed by Carver Aviation.
Pramesh Parikh, a manager at Carver Aviation, said the aircraft was scheduled to land at 8.50 am and that the pilot had reported clear visibility of the runway. “Baramati has a runway measuring 1,770 metres. We did not see the aircraft land, but we heard the crash. There may have been a visibility issue,” he said.
Eyewitnesses said the pilot attempted a go-around, which is a standard aviation procedure.
The Learjet 45, a mid-size business jet, had taken off from Mumbai at 8.10 am. It was flown by Captain Sumit Kapoor with first officer Shambavi Pathak. Pinky Mali was the flight attendant on board, while Pawar’s personal security officer, Vidhit Jadhav, was the fifth passenger.
Baramati airport was earlier managed by Anil Ambani’s Reliance Airport Developers before being handed over to the Maharashtra Airport Development Company. The airport was constructed by the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation in 1996 and was among five airports in the state once managed by Reliance Airport Developers.
