New Delhi, Jan 28 (NationPress) Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan expressed his profound sorrow on Wednesday over the tragic loss of Ajit Pawar, the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, along with the other individuals aboard the ill-fated aircraft that crashed close to Baramati Airport earlier that day.

In a message on X, the Vice President remarked, "The unexpected passing of Maharashtra's Deputy Chief Minister, Shri Ajit Pawar, alongside his fellow passengers and crew members in the plane crash in Baramati is immensely heartbreaking and distressing."

He described the untimely death of the NCP chief as a significant loss for the people of Maharashtra, stating, "Shri Ajit Pawar devoted his life to the advancement and well-being of Maharashtra, gaining respect for his empathy and steadfast dedication to public service."

"I extend my sincere condolences to his family, friends, and supporters. My thoughts are with all those who have lost their loved ones in this tragedy, and I pray for the strength and courage of the grieving families during this period of profound sorrow," he added.

Five individuals, including Deputy CM and NCP leader Ajit Pawar, tragically perished in the Baramati plane crash on Wednesday morning.

The passengers aboard the Learjet 45 (registration VT-SSK), operated by VSR, included a personal security officer, an attendant, and two crew members: a Pilot-in-Command and a Second-in-Command.

The deceased have been identified as Vidip Jadhav (male) and Pinky Mali (female). Additionally, the crew members were identified as PIC Sumit Kapur and SIC Shambhavi Pathak, according to the passenger list.

Meanwhile, the Maharashtra Police announced on Wednesday that they are conducting a thorough investigation into the Baramati plane crash, which resulted in the death of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, to ascertain the cause of the incident.

"The location and state of the wreckage at the crash site will undergo meticulous examination and documentation to establish the speed and trajectory of the aircraft upon impact," police officials stated.

They also mentioned that a black box will be analyzed to evaluate the aircraft's technical status during the flight and whether it was airworthy.

"The cockpit voice recording will shed light on the communication and decisions made by the pilots in the critical moments leading up to the crash," officials added, noting that all maintenance records of the aircraft will also be reviewed.

A team of DGCA officials has arrived at the crash site.

Further details regarding the plane crash are awaited.