Ajit Pawar's body was identified by his wristwatch and clothes
What's the story
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar was killed in a plane crash on Wednesday. The incident took place at Baramati airport, where his Bombardier Learjet 45, operated by VSR Ventures, crashed while attempting to land. All five people on board, including Pawar and his personal security officer, an attendant, and two pilots, were killed in the accident.
Crash conditions
Dense fog and low visibility suspected in crash
Initial reports suggest that dense fog and low visibility were present at Baramati airport when the crash occurred. Sources told India Today TV that visibility had dropped sharply in the morning as the aircraft was on approach for landing. In a press release, the government said that during the second landing attempt, the pilot told the ATC, "Runway is currently not in sight, will call when runway is in sight."
Landing
ATC saw flames around the threshold of runway 11
The aircraft was cleared to land on runway 11 at 8:43am. However, the pilot did not give a readback of landing clearance, which is standard protocol. Next, the ATC saw the flames around the threshold of runway 11 at 8:44am, the government said. Rescue teams reached the site but found the jet completely destroyed by impact and fire.
Victim identification
Identification of victims through personal belongings
Due to the condition of the remains, identification was done through personal belongings. Pawar's body was identified using his watch and clothing, while other occupants were identified through clothes and items recovered from the wreckage. The other four passengers were Mumbai Police constable Vidip Jadhav, who was serving as Pawar's Personnel Security Officer, and attendant Pinky Mali. Captain Sumit Kapoor also died in the crash. The pilot of the aircraft was Captain Shambhavi Pathak.
Political impact
Pawar's death sends shockwaves through Maharashtra's political landscape
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has started an investigation into the incident. The flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder will be crucial in determining what happened during this tragic event. Pawar, 66, was a prominent figure in Maharashtra politics and was serving his sixth term as deputy chief minister. In light of Pawar's death, the Maharashtra government has announced a three-day state mourning.