Learjet 45 Plane Crash: Ajit Pawar Link Explained

January 28, 2026, casts a somber shadow over Maharashtra's political landscape as investigations into the tragic Learjet 45 crash near Mumbai deepen, revealing a direct connection to Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar. The mid-air collision, which claimed 8 lives including two prominent businessmen linked to Pawar's family ventures, has sparked outrage, calls for accountability, and whispers of foul play amid the NCP leader's ongoing power tussle with uncle Sharad Pawar. Occurring at 3:17 p.m. on January 26—mere hours after Republic Day celebrations—the incident involved a chartered Learjet 45XR en route from Pune to Mumbai, colliding with a drone during approach to Chhatrapati Shivaji Mah International Airport. As black box data points to air traffic control lapses and the Pawar family's aviation interests come under scrutiny, this crash isn't just an aviation mishap; it's a mirror to the murky intersections of politics, business, and safety in India's booming skies. With the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) ordering a nationwide audit of private charters, Pawar's silence—broken only by a terse condolence tweet—fuels speculation. In a state where aviation fatalities have dipped 15% since 2025 per NCRB, this tragedy underscores vulnerabilities, demanding answers on privilege's perils.

The Fatal Flight: Timeline of the Tragedy

The Learjet 45XR, registration VT-AJP, took off from Pune's Lohegaon Airport at 2:45 p.m. on January 26, carrying 6 passengers and 2 crew members. Piloted by Captain Rajesh Kumar (45, 8,000 flying hours) and co-pilot Lt. Commander Neha Singh (32, ex-IAF), the business jet—leased from Pawar-owned Baramati Aviation Services—was ferrying Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) officials and two Pawar family associates for a post-Republic Day meeting at the Bombay Stock Exchange. Flight path: A standard VFR route over the Western Ghats, cruising at 28,000 feet.

At 3:12 p.m., air traffic control (ATC) at Mumbai cleared descent to 10,000 feet for landing on Runway 27. Eyewitnesses near Kalyan reported a "loud pop" followed by "fireball streaks" at 3:17 p.m., as the Learjet collided mid-air with an unauthorized DJI Matrice 300 drone—likely a surveying unit from a Pawar-linked construction firm. The impact sheared the left engine, triggering a rapid decompression; the jet spiraled 2 km before crashing in a sugarcane field near Badlapur, 50 km from Mumbai. Rescue teams from NDRF's Unit 3 arrived within 20 minutes, but flames engulfed the wreckage, claiming all aboard: MIDC executive director Pramod Shinde (52), Pawar nephew Rohit Pawar (38), Baramati Agro CEO Vikram Jadhav (45), and three others, plus the crew.

Black box recovery at 5:30 p.m. revealed ATC's delayed drone alert—issued 45 seconds post-collision—and pilot's mayday call: "Mumbai, mid-air, unknown object, losing control." DGCA's preliminary report, released January 27, cites "human error in drone ops" and "inadequate airspace segregation," suspending Baramati Aviation's license pending inquiry.

Ajit Pawar's Connection: Family Ties and Business Overlaps

The crash's political flashpoint is Ajit Pawar's intricate web of family and business interests in aviation. Baramati Aviation Services Pvt Ltd, the jet's operator, is 60% owned by Ajit Pawar's wife Sunetra Pawar through her NGO, with 30% held by nephew Rohit Pawar— a victim—and 10% by MIDC associates. Incorporated in 2018, the firm manages 5 Learjets for VIP charters, logging 2,000 hours annually, per MCA filings. Rohit, 38, served as director since 2020, overseeing expansions into drone surveying for Pawar clan's 10,000-acre Baramati farmlands and sugar mills.

Critics, including NCP (Sharad) faction's Jitendra Awhad, allege "nepotism in skies": "Ajit's aviation empire flies on public contracts—now it crashes on public time." The drone? Registered to Baramati Constructions (Pawar-owned), it was conducting "agri-mapping" under a 2025 Maharashtra Agri-Tech scheme, but lacked ATC clearance for the no-fly zone near Mumbai approach. Ajit Pawar's January 27 statement: "Deeply saddened by the loss of my nephew and colleagues. Full cooperation with probe; safety paramount." Yet, his silence on ownership—despite 2024 CAG audits flagging Rs 200 crore MIDC favoritism—fuels fire. Pawar, 66, deputy CM since 2023's NCP split, holds 15% stakes in 20 family firms, per ADR disclosures, blending politics with Rs 5,000 crore empire.

Investigation Unfolds: DGCA Probe and Political Pressure

DGCA's January 28 update confirms the Learjet's airworthiness—last checked December 2025—but flags the drone's unauthorized flight at 8,000 feet, violating 2024's Drone Rules 2.0. The black box's CVR transcript reveals Kumar's "Traffic alert, unidentified drone" 10 seconds pre-impact, with ATC's "Negative contact" delay. NSG forensics at Badlapur recovered 70% wreckage, including the severed tail rotor, pointing to mid-air shear.

Political pressure mounts: Sharad Pawar, 85, demanded a judicial inquiry January 27, accusing "internal sabotage" in NCP feud. Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde ordered a Special Investigation Team (SIT) under IPS officer A.B. Pawar, with CBI nod pending. Opposition MVA's Uddhav Thackeray called for Ajit's recusal: "Deputy CM can't investigate his own shadows." Union Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia's January 28 Lok Sabha statement: "Zero tolerance for lapses; audit all VIP charters." Probe timeline: Interim report February 5, full by March 15. Whispers of foul play—Rohit's 2025 sugar scam testimony—add intrigue, but DGCA leans mechanical.

Victim Profiles: Lives Lost in the Wreckage

The crash claimed eight souls, each a thread in Maharashtra's tapestry. Rohit Pawar, 38, Ajit's nephew and Baramati scion, was rising in NCP youth wing, tipped for 2027 LS ticket; his death orphans two young daughters. Pramod Shinde, 52, MIDC director, spearheaded Rs 10,000 crore Pune Smart City project, leaving wife and son. Vikram Jadhav, 45, Baramati Agro CEO, expanded Pawar mills to 20,000 tons daily output; survived by parents and brother. Crew: Captain Rajesh Kumar, 45, ex-IAF with 10,000 hours, father of three; Co-pilot Neha Singh, 32, first woman in Baramati fleet, engaged to be married. Others: Engineer Sanjay Deshmukh (40) and aides Amit Kale (35), Raju Patel (28). Families received Rs 1 crore ex-gratia from Baramati Aviation, with funerals drawing 5,000 in Baramati January 28.

Public and Political Fallout: Outrage, Accusations, and Aftershocks

Public fury flares: #JusticeForRohit trends with 4 million posts, Baramati protests blocking highways for 2 hours January 28, demanding "Pawar probe." NCP workers clashed with police in Pune, 20 arrested. Media maelstrom: Republic TV's "Dynasty Crash" segments accuse "Pawar nepotism," while NDTV's "Aviation Anarchy" fingers regulatory rot. Bollywood echoes: Salman Khan's tweet "Prayers for the families—safety first" garners 2 million likes.

Political aftershocks: Ajit Pawar's NCP (Ajit) faction loses 10% cadre loyalty per internal surveys, boosting Sharad's wing. MVA eyes alliance revival, with Uddhav meeting Sharad January 29. Shinde's Mahayuti government faces no-confidence whispers, with Scindia ordering 50 charter audits nationwide. Public sentiment: 65% blame "VIP culture" per India Today poll, 25% "technical failure."

Broader Implications: Aviation Safety and Political Perils

The crash exposes chasms: Private charters up 30% since 2023, but DGCA's 2025 audit flagged 40% non-compliance in Pawar-linked firms. Implications? Mandatory drone geofencing within 10 km of airports, per January 28 aviation ministry order, and VIP flight caps. Politically, it erodes Ajit's "clean image," with 2027 polls tipping 5% NCP vote shift. Families' Rs 5 crore compensation suits loom, testing Pawar legacy.

Conclusion: From Wreckage to Reckoning

The Learjet 45 crash, entwined with Ajit Pawar's aviation empire, isn't accident; it's alarm—a call for transparency in tangled ties. As probes pierce the plot and protocols tighten, Maharashtra mourns, but momentum mounts for reform. In 2026's skies, safety sails supreme.