Learjet 45 Aircraft That Caused Ajit Pawar’s Death; What We Know So Far
Pune : A profound sense of shock has gripped the political landscape of Maharashtra following the tragic death of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in a localized aviation disaster. According to reports from NDTV and various news agencies, the veteran leader was among five individuals who perished on Wednesday morning, January 28, 2026, when their private aircraft crashed while attempting to land at Baramati Airport.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) confirmed that the aircraft involved was a Learjet 45, operated by the Delhi-based firm VSR Ventures. The flight originated from Mumbai at approximately 8:00 AM and was scheduled to arrive in Baramati an hour later. As detailed by PTI and other outlets, the incident occurred around 8:45 AM during the final landing phase. Eyewitness accounts provided to ANI describe the harrowing moments as the plane appeared unstable during its descent, eventually losing control and erupting into a series of explosions upon impact.
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According to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the aircraft that crash-landed in Baramati was a Learjet 45, a mid-size business jet manufactured by Bombardier Aerospace. Introduced in the 1990s, the Learjet 45 was developed to compete in the “super-light” business jet segment and positioned as a rival to aircraft such as the Cessna Citation Excel/XLS. The jet is capable of flying up to 1,971 nautical miles (approximately 3,650 km) at a cruising speed of Mach 0.81.
The aircraft was operated by VSR Aviation, a private charter company founded by V K Singh. The firm’s registered office is located in Mahipalpur, New Delhi. As outlined on its official website, VSR Aviation offers customised and cost-effective air travel solutions for corporate clients and individuals requiring access to destinations not well connected by commercial airlines.
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In addition to charter services, the company provides aviation consultancy, aircraft management, spare-parts procurement, and coordination with multiple regulatory bodies, including the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA), Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), DGCA, DGFT, BCAS, and the Airports Authority of India (AAI). Its service portfolio includes private jet charters and leasing, air ambulance operations, and empty-leg flights.
The Learjet 45 involved in the incident bore the registration VT-SSK. There were five people on board at the time of the crash-landing, including Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, two accompanying personnel- a personal security officer and an attendant along with two flight crew members, comprising the pilot-in-command and first officer.