The Union government has shared a detailed official account of what unfolded in the final minutes before the aircraft carrying Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar went down near the Baramati airstrip. The statement, issued by the Ministry of Civil Aviation, pieces together radio communications, weather inputs, and on-ground observations to explain how the situation developed on the morning of January 28.

According to the government’s version, the chartered Learjet reached the Baramati region shortly after 8.15 am and began coordinating its approach after being handed over by Pune air traffic control. Baramati, unlike major airports, does not have a full-fledged air traffic control tower staffed by AAI controllers. Instead, flight information is shared by instructors and pilots from flying schools operating at the airfield.

As the aircraft descended, the pilots sought updates on local conditions. They were informed that winds were calm and visibility was moderate, estimated at around three kilometres. Despite this, the crew later reported difficulty in visually locating the runway while lining up for landing. This led them to abandon the first landing attempt and climb back for another approach, a standard safety procedure.

During the second attempt, the pilots again informed ground personnel that the runway was not immediately visible. Moments later, they reported that they had visual contact. At around 8.43 am, permission to land on Runway 11 was conveyed. Officials noted that no confirmation was received from the cockpit after this clearance. Within roughly a minute, flames were seen near the runway threshold, indicating that the aircraft had come down and caught fire.

Emergency teams were rushed to the spot, but the aircraft had already been severely damaged. The wreckage was later located to the left of the runway, close to the landing threshold area.

The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau has formally taken charge of the inquiry and will analyse flight data, cockpit recordings, and technical records. Senior officials from the bureau are travelling to the site to oversee the investigation. Authorities have underlined that the aircraft’s certificates, engines, and crew licences were valid, and that both pilots were medically cleared and experienced.