.
NEW DELHI: The ministry of civil aviation (MoCA) on Thursday issued a statement on the investigation into the plane crash at Baramati airport that killed Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar and four others on Wednesday. The ministry said the probe into the Learjet 45 aircraft crash is progressing expeditiously.In a post on X, the ministry said, “Ensuring a thorough, transparent, and time-bound inquiry remains a top priority”.The ministry stated that a team of three officers from the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), Delhi, and another team of three officers from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Mumbai Regional Office, reached the crash site on January 28. The Director General of AAIB also arrived at the site the same day. “The investigation is progressing expeditiously, and the black box of the ill-fated aircraft has been recovered,” the Ministry said.Follow Ajit Pawar Plane Crash Live UpdatesAccording to the MoCA, the investigation has been initiated in accordance with Rules 5 and 11 of the AAIB Rules, 2025. The ministry added that it remains fully committed to completing the probe within a defined timeframe, strictly in line with established Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and laid-down guidelines.
- Officials probing the crash confirmed that the voice recorder and flight data recorder have been recovered from the accident spot.
- Earlier in the day, officials from the DGCA and forensic teams reached the crash site to assist in the investigation.
- The Pune Rural Police have registered an Accidental Death Report (ADR) at the Baramati Taluka Police Station in connection with the crash and have initiated further investigation. “Pune Rural Police have registered an Accidental Death Report (ADR) at Baramati Taluka Police Station in connection with the air crash in which Maharashtra deputy CM Ajit Pawar lost his life. Further investigation initiated,” a police official said.
- Full state honours were accorded to Ajit Pawar as his mortal remains were taken to the Vidya Pratishthan ground for the last rites. Supporters gathered outside Ahilyabai Holkar Government Medical College to pay their final respects.
- The funeral procession of Maharashtra’s longest-serving deputy chief minister (non-consecutively) began from the Vidya Pratishthan campus at 9am, passed through the city to allow people to pay homage, and culminated at the Vidya Pratishthan Ground, where the funeral was scheduled at 11am.