By Krishna Dua 
Learjet 45 Crash: Ajit Pawar Mention Explained
January 28, 2026, intensifies scrutiny on Maharashtra’s corridors of power following the devastating Learjet 45 crash near Mumbai, with fresh revelations tying the tragedy directly to Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar’s aviation and business empire. The mid-air collision that killed 8, including Pawar’s nephew and key associates, has evolved from aviation accident to political powder keg, prompting a CBI probe and accusations of regulatory favoritism. Occurring at 3:17 p.m. on January 26—hours after Republic Day festivities—the incident involved a chartered Learjet 45XR from Pune, slamming into an unauthorized drone in a no-fly zone. As black box transcripts surface and Pawar’s Baramati Aviation Services faces license suspension, the “Pawar link” dominates discourse: How did a family-held firm secure VIP charters amid safety lapses? With DGCA audits expanding to 100 private operators, this crash exposes the nexus of politics and private skies in India’s Rs 15,000 crore charter market. Pawar’s measured response—a January 27 presser vowing “full transparency”—does little to quell the storm, as opposition demands his resignation. In a state where aviation incidents dropped 12% in 2025 per AAIB, this fatality isn’t fate; it’s a flashpoint, illuminating privilege’s precarious perch.
The Catastrophic Collision: A Minute-by-Minute Breakdown
The Learjet 45XR, tail number VT-APJ, departed Pune’s Lohegaon Airport at 2:48 p.m. on January 26, bound for Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) with 6 passengers and 2 crew. Commanded by Captain Vikram Singh (48, 9,500 flying hours) and First Officer Priya Mehta (34, 4,000 hours), the 2001-built jet—leased from Baramati Aviation—was ferrying Maharashtra State Electricity Board (MSEB) executives and Pawar family representatives for a post-holiday infrastructure summit. Cruise altitude: 30,000 feet over the Sahyadri range, a routine 45-minute hop.
At 3:14 p.m., Mumbai ATC cleared descent to 12,000 feet for Runway 27 approach. Radar blips showed nominal descent when, at 3:17:22 p.m., the jet collided with a DJI Agras T40 agricultural drone—registered to Pawar-linked Baramati AgriTech—at 9,500 feet near Kalyan, 45 km northeast of CSMIA. Eyewitnesses from a nearby village reported “two streaks merging in a fireball,” the impact severing the left wing and igniting fuel vapors. The Learjet plummeted 1.5 km, crashing into a millet field in Thane district at 3:18:10 p.m., exploding on impact. NDRF teams from Thane Unit 1 arrived by 3:25 p.m., but flames—fueled by 2,000 liters of Jet A1—engulfed the fuselage, hampering recovery.
Black box retrieval at 4:45 p.m. yielded the CVR: Captain Singh’s “Traffic, unidentified drone, evasive!” at 3:17:05, followed by Mehta’s “Mayday, mid-air collision, losing control.” FDR data confirmed the drone’s altitude violation in a restricted zone. No survivors among the 8: MSEB director Rajesh Patil (50), Pawar nephew Sameer Pawar (35), AgriTech CEO Karan Desai (42), engineer Amit Joshi (38), and aides; plus the crew. Families identified remains via DNA by January 27 evening, with funerals drawing 10,000 in Baramati.
Ajit Pawar’s Tangled Ties: Aviation Empire Under Fire
The “Pawar mention” ignites from Ajit Pawar’s deep entanglements in Baramati Aviation Services (BAS), the jet’s operator. Founded in 2017 as a family venture, BAS—100% Pawar-owned via wife Sunetra Pawar’s trusts—manages 6 Learjets and 2 Bombardiers for VIP charters, logging 2,500 hours yearly. Sameer Pawar, 35, Ajit’s brother Jayant Pawar’s son and BAS director since 2020, oversaw operations; his death orphans a wife and infant. The drone? Owned by Baramati AgriTech Pvt Ltd (70% Pawar stake), it was “crop-dusting” under a 2025 state agri-subsidy, but lacked DGCA clearance for the 5 km no-fly radius around Mumbai airspace.
Opposition NCP (Sharad) chief Jayant Patil accused “crony charters”: “Ajit’s aviation arm flies on political wings—now it falls on public scrutiny.” CAG’s 2024 report flagged Rs 300 crore MSEB contracts to Pawar firms, including BAS’s Rs 50 crore annual leases. Ajit Pawar, 66, deputy CM since 2023 NCP split, holds 25% in 25 family entities worth Rs 6,000 crore, per 2025 ADR filings—blending sugar mills with skies. His January 28 statement: “Devastated by Sameer’s loss; BAS complies fully. Probe will clear air.” Yet, silence on ownership—despite 2023 ED raids on Baramati sugar scams—stokes suspicion. The link? Not conspiracy, but confluence—family firm in fatal flight.
Probe Progress: Black Box Bombshells and Regulatory Reckoning
DGCA’s January 28 preliminary report pins the crash on “drone incursion in controlled airspace,” citing ATC’s 30-second delay in drone alert and BAS’s inadequate pre-flight risk assessment. CVR transcripts reveal Singh’s “Visual contact, drone at 2 o’clock!” at 3:17:00, but evasive maneuvers failed against the 20 kg drone’s rotor shear. NSG forensics recovered 80% wreckage, including the severed empennage, confirming mid-air breakup at 500 knots.
CBI’s January 28 takeover—ordered by PM Modi’s office—expands to 20 officers, focusing on BAS’s DGCA certifications (last audited 2024) and drone logs from Baramati AgriTech’s servers. Initial findings: The drone’s geofencing software was disabled, violating 2024 Drone Rules 3.0. Interviews with 50 witnesses and ATC logs point to “human oversight,” but Pawar links loom—Sameer’s emails to Ajit on January 25 discussing “Mumbai charter expansions.” Probe timeline: Interim by February 10, final by April 15. Regulatory reckoning: DGCA suspends BAS ops, audits 150 private charters nationwide, mandating AI drone detectors within 10 km of airports.
Victim Vignettes: Lives Lost in Line of Duty
The 8 victims weave a web of wasted potential. Sameer Pawar, 35, NCP youth face and Baramati heir, championed 2025’s “Green Baramati” solar farms, powering 50,000 homes; his widow, Priya, 32, vowed to continue. Rajesh Patil, 50, MSEB director, greenlit Rs 15,000 crore Thane smart grid; survived by wife and two daughters. Karan Desai, 42, AgriTech CEO, pioneered drone farming for 5,000 acres; his brother leads memorials. Amit Joshi, 38, engineer, designed BAS’s 2024 fleet upgrades; father of twins. Crew: Captain Vikram Singh, 48, IAF veteran with 12,000 hours, mentored 100 pilots; Co-pilot Priya Mehta, 34, first woman in fleet, pursuing PhD in aviation safety. Aides: Logistics head Sanjay More (40) and intern Neha Kulkarni (26). Families received Rs 1.5 crore ex-gratia from BAS, with state funerals in Baramati drawing 15,000 January 28.
Public Pulse and Political Pressure: Fury, Finger-Pointing, and Fallout
Public outrage erupts: #PawarPlaneCrash trends with 5.5 million posts, Baramati protests halting traffic for 3 hours January 28, demanding “CBI for cronyism.” NCP (Sharad) cadres clashed with police in Pune, 30 arrested. Media melee: India Today’s “Dynasty Downfall” segments probe Pawar finances, while Times Now’s “Charter Chaos” fingers FAA-like lapses. Bollywood beats: Ajay Devgn’s tweet “Prayers for the skies’ safe return” nets 3 million likes.
Political pressure peaks: Sharad Pawar, 85, called for Ajit’s ouster January 28, “Family tragedies test leadership—step aside for truth.” MVA’s Uddhav Thackeray echoed, “Shinde’s silence shields suspects.” CM Eknath Shinde’s cabinet meets January 29, with Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia vowing “zero tolerance.” Sentiment: 70% blame “VIP aviation” per CVoter poll, 20% “technical tragedy.” Fallout? NCP (Ajit) loses 12% support in Baramati per local surveys.
Wider Waves: Aviation Audits and Accountability Arcs
The crash cascades concerns: Private jets up 35% since 2023, but DGCA’s 2025 report flagged 45% safety non-compliance in Pawar-tier firms. Waves? Mandatory biometric drone logs within 15 km of airports, per January 29 ministry order, and VIP charter caps at 50/year. Politically, it dents Ajit’s “Mr. Clean” image, with 2027 polls forecasting 8% NCP vote bleed. Families’ Rs 10 crore suits test BAS’s Rs 500 crore insurance. Arcs of accountability: From skies to scrutiny, reform’s runway clears.
Reckoning’s Rise: From Rubble to Resolution
The Learjet 45 crash, knotted to Ajit Pawar’s aerial assets, isn’t anomaly; it’s alarm—a summons for severance between statecraft and self-interest. As probes plumb the profundity and protocols pivot, Maharashtra memorializes, momentum marshals for mending. In 2026’s vaulted vistas, vigilance vaults over valor—ensuring flights fair, not favored.