‘Hit the ground hard and exploded’: Eyewitnesses on Ajit Pawar plane crash

Baramati: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and NCP president Ajit Pawar, the most energetic leader, fondly called ‘Dada’, who set an example for Maharashtra by starting his day at dawn, passed away on Wednesday in a plane crash in Baramati. The horrific accident occurred this morning as he was heading for Baramati to address political rallies amid the ongoing Pune zilla parishad and panchayat samitis.

The aircraft crashed during landing and was literally blown into pieces. As news of his passing spread within moments, the entire state of Maharashtra was plunged into mourning.

According to the DGCA information, the others who died include Vidip Jadhav and Pinky Mali (PSO and attendant), two crew members, Captain Sumit Kapur and Captain Shambhavi Pathak. Ajit Pawar and the other injured individuals were admitted for treatment in Baramati in extremely critical condition. However, he passed away while undergoing treatment.

According to information received, Ajit Pawar left Mumbai for Baramati this morning by plane for a public meeting. He frequently travelled in a small aircraft, and today was no different. Reports indicate the crash happened while landing in Baramati, with the plane coming down in a field.

An eyewitness near Baramati airport said the ill-fated aircraft carrying Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar appeared “a bit unstable in the air” and exploded the moment it crashed on the ground.

Speaking to a Marathi news channel, the woman said she noticed the aircraft early in the morning as it circled the airport. “It took a round in the air, and as it was approaching the runway to land, it hit the ground hard and exploded. The sound was huge and could be heard at our home,” she said. She said several parts of the aircraft were hurled into the air after the explosion, and some fell near her house. “The plane tilted before coming down. We saw the explosion, and it was frightening,” she added.

Another eyewitness said the aircraft appeared to be losing control as it descended. “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 said. “It was a major fire. We later learned that Pawar was on the aircraft. It was shocking for us,” he added.

This marks the untimely end of Ajit Pawar’s ‘Dada Era’ in politics. For the last four and a half decades, his influence has been a constant subject of discussion in Maharashtra’s political circles. He was consistently viewed as a daring leader, the singular force behind the NCP, and the successor to Sharad Pawar. His sudden demise has shaken both the Pawar family and the entire state to its core. Many were moved to tears upon seeing the wreckage of the crashed plane.

IANS