Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 06:19pm on 29 Jan 2026,Thursday India
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar died when the chartered Learjet 45 he was aboard crashed near Baramati during its second landing attempt amid poor visibility, killing all five people onboard. The victims included Pawar, two pilots — Captain Sumit Kapoor and Shambhavi Pathak — a flight attendant and Pawar’s security guard. Friends say Captain Kapoor had filled in at short notice, as another pilot was delayed by traffic. Preliminary probes suggest possible pilot misjudgement and challenging weather conditions, with technical issues also under investigation. The tragedy shocks Maharashtra’s political landscape ahead of local elections and prompts detailed aviation inquiries. (PC: NDTV)