Baramati, Jan 29 (NationPress) As the state of Maharashtra grieves, the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has ramped up its investigation into the tragic plane crash that led to the death of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar.

Initial findings indicate that poor visibility and the absence of advanced navigational equipment at the Baramati airstrip may have contributed to the disaster. The incident also resulted in the loss of four lives, including two pilots, a personal security officer, and a flight attendant, according to sources.

Ajit Pawar leaves behind a wife and two sons, along with a political legacy that has significantly shaped Maharashtra's cooperative and developmental framework for years.

In a devastating aviation incident that has reverberated throughout Maharashtra, Ajit Pawar tragically passed away on Wednesday after his aircraft went down near Baramati Airport.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation has officially established a three-member committee to investigate this unfortunate event.

As per an official announcement from the Ministry, a specialized team from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), along with AAIB, arrived at the crash site on Wednesday. The Director General of the AAIB personally visited the location to examine the wreckage of the Learjet 45.

The Ministry has confirmed that the aircraft’s Black Box—which includes the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) and the Flight Data Recorder (FDR)—has been recovered. “Our highest priority is a thorough, transparent, and timely investigation,” stated the Ministry. Analysts will now scrutinize the data to re-create the last moments of the flight and ascertain the crash's exact cause.

The inquiry is being conducted in line with Rules 5 and 11 of the AAIB Rules 2025, adhering to established Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).

Officials have indicated that the investigation is primarily concentrating on visibility conditions at the time of the crash, the pilot's decision-making process during the flight, operational constraints at the Baramati airstrip, and uncontrolled runway factors, since the aircraft reportedly crashed during its second attempt to land.

The AAIB expert team, which arrived on Wednesday evening, has commenced forensic procedures. They have secured the wreckage and are gathering essential evidence. Investigators have requested various records from the airline, including airframe and engine logbooks, maintenance and inspection histories, and all pertinent aircraft documentation alongside crew qualifications and certifications.

Earlier in the day, amidst the pervasive sorrow and chants of “Ajit Dada Amar Rahe,” Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) President Ajit Pawar was cremated with full state honors at the Vidya Pratishthan ground.

The 66-year-old leader, a significant figure in Maharashtra politics for nearly four decades, sadly lost his life on Wednesday morning when his chartered aircraft met with an accident while attempting to land at Baramati airport.

The day commenced with a solemn procession as the leader’s mortal remains were taken from his residence in Katewadi. Thousands of supporters, many having traveled from various regions, lined the streets of Baramati to bid farewell to their “Dada.”

The flower-adorned military vehicle, carrying his remains draped in the National Tricolor, moved through a crowd of grieving supporters before arriving at the Vidya Pratishthan ground. At 11:00 a.m., a police contingent presented a guard of honor and performed a gun salute, signifying the state’s official goodbye to its longest-serving Deputy Chief Minister.

Prominent political figures from across the nation gathered in Baramati to pay their tributes, reflecting the veteran leader's extensive cross-party influence.