Final moments caught on camera: Ajit Pawar’s plane tilted before crash

The video shows the aircraft descending at high speed and rolling left close to the ground just seconds before impact.

Aviation experts told NDTV that such a manoeuvre is highly unusual during the final stages of landing and could indicate a technical malfunction or pilots attempting to counter sudden stress or instability in the aircraft.

The Learjet 45, owned by VSR Ventures Pvt Ltd and registered as VT-SSK, took off from Mumbai at 8.10 am with Ajit Pawar, his personal security officer Vidip Jadhav, Captain Sumit Kapoor, First Officer Shambhavi Pathak and flight attendant Pinky Mali on board.

About 30 nautical miles from Baramati, the pilots were informed that visibility at the airport was around 3 km, which is considered safe for landing. However, during the first approach, the crew reported they could not see the runway and were instructed by air traffic control to execute a go-around.

The aircraft was cleared for landing on its second approach at around 8.34 am. Minutes later, the plane reportedly stopped transmitting signals and crashed in a fireball near the airport’s lone runway.

CCTV footage timestamped 8.44 am shows the aircraft losing altitude rapidly after the sharp left roll. All five occupants had died by the time rescue teams reached the site. Sources said Ajit Pawar was identified by the wristwatch he was wearing.

The death of the 66-year-old NCP chief, a six-time deputy chief minister, has left a major vacuum in Maharashtra politics.

It is expected to impact equations within the ruling Mahayuti alliance, which includes the BJP and the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, as well as discussions around a possible reunion with the Sharad Pawar faction of the NCP, from which Ajit Pawar split in 2023.

Ajit Pawar’s last rites will be held with full state honours at 11 am on Thursday in Baramati. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah are expected to attend the funeral.