The aircraft involved was VT-SSK, a 16-year-old Learjet 45XR operated by VSR Ventures.[1][2][3] VSR Aviation provides charter and medivac flights.[4]
Passengers and crew
There were five people on board 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 deputy chief minister of Maharashtra, and his personal security officer, Vidip Jadhav.[5][6] Pilot Kapur wasn't supposed to fly on the day, but filled in for a friend who got stuck in traffic.[7]
Accident
The aircraft seconds before crashing
At approximately 08:46 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.[8][9][10] The pilot issued a warning minutes before the crash.[11]CCTV footage showed the aircraft flipping, losing control, crashing and exploding.[12] At the time of the incident, Ajit Pawar was travelling to Baramati to address multiple public meetings in connection with the upcoming Zilla Parishad elections.[13]
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.[1]
Tributes came in from across the political spectrum including from Devendra Fadnavis, Rahul Gandhi, Amit Shah and Sanjay Raut.[14] 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.[15]
VK Singh, the owner of VSR Ventures, claimed technical failure was unlikely and low visibility was the primary factor behind the incident.[16]
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