Massive explosion, no one could help: Eyewitness recalls horror of Ajit Pawar’s fatal plane crash

Maharashtra’s Baramati was gripped by tragedy and disbelief on January 28 morning when Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar’s aircraft crashed while attempting to land, bursting into flames and killing all five on board. The devastating accident unfolded in a matter of moments, leaving eyewitnesses helpless amid a scene of fire and destruction.

“I saw it with my own eyes. The plane was descending uncontrollably, and then it crashed hard,” said one eyewitness near the crash site, his voice heavy with anguish. “There was a massive explosion right after impact. Flames shot up instantly. We tried to help, but the fire was too intense. No one could get close.”

Locals rushed to the wreckage as thick black smoke billowed into the sky, but repeated blasts from the burning aircraft forced them back. “Four to five explosions went off after the crash. People tried to pull survivors out, but it was impossible with such a fierce blaze,” the witness added, fighting back tears.

The aircraft, which took off from Mumbai around 8 am, was carrying Ajit Pawar along with two pilots and two security personnel. All five perished on impact. Pawar, 66, was en route to public meetings ahead of local body elections when tragedy struck.

Visuals from the site revealed twisted metal and scattered debris smoldering on the ground, a grim reminder of the catastrophic crash.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed profound grief, calling Ajit Pawar “a leader of the people with a strong grassroots connection” and lamented his untimely death as a “shocking and saddening loss.”

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation has launched a full investigation, with teams dispatched to examine the wreckage and recover the aircraft’s black box to determine the cause of the crash. Early findings are awaited amid a somber atmosphere in Baramati, where security has been tightened and mourning continues.

As Maharashtra mourns, the haunting words of those who witnessed the horror remain etched — a reminder of a tragic day when a prominent leader’s life was extinguished in flames, leaving a community in deep sorrow and unanswered questions.