An emotional Sharad Pawar on Wednesday ruled out any conspiracy in the plane crash that killed his nephew and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, saying the incident was a tragic accident with no political angle.

Speaking publicly for the first time since the crash, Sharad Pawar said the loss was irreparable for the state and urged people not to attach politics to the tragedy. He described Ajit Pawar as a capable leader whose absence would be deeply felt across Maharashtra.

“Everything is not in our hands. Some incidents have no politics behind them. This was purely an accident,” Sharad Pawar said, adding that the pain of the loss would remain forever.

Aircraft crash details

Ajit Pawar was travelling in a Bombardier Learjet 45 operated by private aviation firm VSR Aviation. The aircraft was flying from Mumbai to Baramati in Pune district when it crash-landed near the runway and caught fire.

Television visuals from the site showed thick smoke rising from the wreckage shortly after the incident.

According to aviation authorities, Ajit Pawar was accompanied by his personal security officer, an assistant, and two crew members at the time of the crash. All were on board when the aircraft went down.

Poor visibility during landing attempt

The government, in a statement, said the aircraft had attempted a landing after being cleared by air traffic control following a go-around due to poor visibility. However, after receiving final clearance, the aircraft reportedly did not provide a mandatory read-back to the ATC.

Moments later, it burst into flames near the edge of the runway.

Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu said preliminary information indicated that visibility was poor during the landing attempt. He confirmed that investigation teams from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation and the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau had reached the site to examine the cause of the accident.

In aviation procedures, a go-around is considered a standard safety step when conditions are not suitable for landing, while a read-back ensures clear communication between pilots and air traffic controllers.

Operator rules out technical failure

VSR Aviation owner VK Singh said the aircraft was well maintained and there was no known technical issue with the jet.

“As far as we know, there was absolutely no technical failure,” he told reporters, adding that the plane had undergone regular maintenance checks.

Investigators are expected to analyse flight data, communication records, and weather conditions to determine the exact sequence of events that led to the crash.

Maharashtra deputy chief minister and NCP leader Ajit Pawar died in a tragic plane crash near Baramati on Tuesday morning. Reports indicate that four others, possibly including the aircraft crew and Pawar’s security personnel, were also killed in the accident.

The small aircraft took off from Mumbai around 8 am and crashed near Baramati airport while attempting to land approximately an hour later. Pawar was scheduled to attend four significant public meetings as part of his campaign ahead of the local body polls.

Visuals from the scene showed smoke and fire, with the wreckage of the plane scattered near the runway. Emergency services rushed the injured to nearby hospitals, although initial reports confirm multiple fatalities. Details regarding the cause of the crash are still awaited.

The incident has sent shockwaves across the state, as Ajit Pawar was a prominent political figure and key campaigner for the upcoming elections.

Party leadership discusses political situation, organisational strengthening and outreach plans as preparations for the 2026 assembly elections gather pace

Bharatiya Janata Party national president Nitin Nabin on Tuesday held a high-level strategy meeting with senior leaders of the West Bengal unit in Durgapur, signalling the party’s intensified push ahead of the state assembly elections.

The meeting focused on reviewing the current political situation in West Bengal, strengthening the party organisation and chalking out future strategies to expand the BJP’s presence across the state.

Senior leaders present at the discussions included Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, former state president Dilip Ghosh, Dr Sukanta Majumdar and Rahul Sinha.

Following the meeting, Dr Sukanta Majumdar and Rahul Sinha told media persons that the BJP would step up public outreach programmes and reinforce its grassroots organisational structure in the coming weeks. They expressed confidence that the party is moving steadily towards forming the government in West Bengal this year.

Nabin’s visit marks his first trip to the state since assuming charge as the BJP’s national president. His two-day tour includes a review of election preparations, organisational meetings and participation in public programmes aimed at energising party workers.

On Wednesday, Nabin is scheduled to offer prayers at the Bhiringi Kali Mandir in the morning before addressing the BJP Karyakarta Sammelan of the Bardhaman division at the Chitralaya Mela Maidan in Durgapur. He will later address the Asansol district BJP Karyakarta Sammelan in Raniganj.

As part of its election preparations for the 2026 assembly polls, the BJP has also finalised a list of Prabasi leaders from several states to strengthen its campaign across different regions of West Bengal, including Nabadwip, Kolkata and the Howrah–Hooghly–Midnapore belt.

The list comprises senior leaders, legislators, former ministers, organisational office-bearers and youth leaders deputed from states such as Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Jharkhand, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Bihar and Tripura. These leaders will work in coordination with the West Bengal unit to oversee organisational activities, election readiness and grassroots mobilisation in their assigned districts.

Meanwhile, Union Home Minister and senior BJP leader Amit Shah is scheduled to visit West Bengal on January 30 and 31. During his two-day tour, Shah is expected to hold key organisational and political meetings to review preparations and boost party morale ahead of the upcoming electoral challenges.