Global & US Headlines
Fog, Pressure & No ILS: Learjet Crash Kills Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar
On 28 Jan 2026 Ajit Pawar’s Learjet 45 slammed short of Baramati’s Runway 11 during a second approach in marginal visibility, killing all five aboard and triggering an AAIB probe into VIP-flight safety at India’s non-instrumented airstrips.
Focusing Facts
- The jet aborted an initial approach at 08:41 IST, was cleared to land at 08:43 but crashed in flames at 08:44, 150 km short of its origin in Mumbai.
- Baramati airfield lacked an Instrument Landing System; after the crash the Indian Air Force rushed a mobile ATC/comm unit from Pune on the state government’s request.
- Operator VSR Ventures’ Learjet fleet was already under AAIB scrutiny after a 2023 Mumbai runway excursion and 2025 US-NTSB alerts on landing-gear defects.
You've read the facts. The perspectives are behind this line.
Perspectives in this article
- Independent opinion columnists and general news features
- Business and industry-oriented outlets quoting the operator
- Technical/aviation expert coverage