Baramati, Jan 28 — Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and four others were killed on Wednesday morning after their aircraft crashed and exploded near Baramati in Pune district, officials said.
The crash occurred around 8.50 am, shortly after the plane disappeared from flight tracking radar. According to Flight Radar data, the aircraft had taken off from Mumbai at 8.10 am and vanished from screens around 8.45 am.
Eyewitnesses described a terrifying scene as the aircraft struggled moments before impact.
“It took a round in the air, appeared a bit unstable and as it was approaching the runway to land, it hit the ground hard and exploded. There was a loud sound that could be heard at our home,” a woman who saw the crash told a news channel.
She said debris was flung into the air and landed near nearby houses.
“The plane tilted before coming down. We saw the explosion and it was frightening,” she added.
Another eyewitness said the aircraft seemed to be losing control while descending.
“The way the plane was coming down, we felt it was going to crash. It was around 100 feet above the runway. As we rushed towards it, we saw flames, followed by four to five consecutive blasts, which prevented us from going anywhere near the aircraft,” he told reporters.
“It was a major fire. We later learnt that Ajit Pawar was on the aircraft. It was shocking for us,” he said.
Police confirmed that five people were on board at the time of the crash.
Superintendent of Police Sandip Gill said flames engulfed the aircraft immediately after impact.
“After the crash, there was a fire. People on board were immediately taken to the hospital,” he said.
Officials later confirmed that all five occupants had died.
Pawar was travelling to Baramati to address public meetings as part of the campaign for the February 5 Zila Parishad elections when the crash occurred.