Ajit Pawar's final moments: Learjet 45 pilot cited poor visibility before landing - ‘then ATC saw flames'
The Learjet 45 aircraft was cleared for landing on runway 11, but the plane ‘did not give a readback of the landing clearance’. After a while, the ATC saw flames on the runway
Hours after a routine election rally trip turned fatal for Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar when the chartered plane he was travelling in crashed during landing at Baramati airport, the poignant details of the final moments of the NCP chief and four others have come to light. The Ministry of Civil Aviation detailed in a press release the sequence of events just as the Learjet 45 aircraft was approaching the Baramati airport runway for landing.
According to the ministry, the pilot had informed the Air Traffic Controller (ATC) about the poor visibility around the runway. The ATC told the investigators that after reporting “no sight of runway”, the pilot later informed the person manning ATC that the runway was in sight.
The aircraft was cleared for landing on runway 11, but the plane, a Learjet 45, “did not give a readback of the landing clearance”.
The ministry said, “The aircraft reported on the final approach of runway 11 and the runway was not in sight to them. They initiated a go-around in the first approach. After go-around, the aircraft was asked about its position and crew reported on final approach of runway 11.”
"They were asked to report runway in sight. They replied “runway is currently not in sight, will call when runway is in sight". After a few seconds, they reported that the runway is in sight. The aircraft was cleared to land on runway 11 at 0843IST; however, they did not give a readback of the landing clearance," it said.
A while later, the ATC saw huge flames around runway 11.
The ministry said in a statement that the flight was on the way to Baramati from Mumbai. “There were a total of 05 persons on board including 02 crew members. The passengers included Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra Shri Ajit Pawar. All the occupants of the aircraft received fatal injuries,” it said.
The other passengers included Ajit Pawar's Personal Security Officer (PSO) and an attendant, along with two crew members (pilot in command and the first officer) on board when the aircraft crashed, a DGCA official said.
According to an eyewitness, the ill-fated aircraft carrying Ajit Pawar appeared “a bit unstable in the air” and exploded the moment it crashed on the ground.
Another person who witnessed the incident said that after the crash, the aircraft burst into flames, followed by four to five consecutive blasts.
The Maharashtra government declared a three-day state mourning till 30 January, during which the national flag will be flown at half-mast on all buildings. There will be no official entertainment during the mourning period.
(With agency inputs)