Civil Aviation Minister K Ram Mohan Naidu on Wednesday said a formal investigation has begun into the plane crash that killed Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and four others, even as he acknowledged that initial inputs pointed to poor visibility at the time of the accident.
“We have begun the investigation into the crash,” Naidu told reporters, adding that all aspects leading to the tragedy would be examined thoroughly.
The minister described Pawar’s death as a deep loss to Maharashtra, calling him an inspirational leader whose work and administrative legacy would be remembered for years.
Ajit Pawar, he said, had played a significant role in shaping Maharashtra through decades of public service. He was inspirational in terms of how he worked for the state and with the people of Maharashtra, Naidu said.
Referring to preliminary information, the civil aviation minister said initial reports indicated that visibility was somewhat poor when the aircraft attempted to land, though he stressed that the investigation would establish the exact sequence and causes behind the crash.
When ATC Baramati asked the pilot whether the runway was in sight, the response was negative, following which the aircraft executed a go-around, he said.
During the second landing attempt, ATC again asked whether the runway was in sight, to which the pilot responded in the affirmative, the minister said.
Expressing personal grief, Naidu said the loss had been difficult to process. “I am very saddened by the incident. In fact, my heart is still very, very heavy with sorrow. Ever since we received the news this morning, it has been extremely difficult to accept that Ajit Dada is no longer with us,” he said.
“My heartfelt condolences go out to his family and to the families of the four others who were on board the aircraft,” the minister added.
The chartered plane crashed near Baramati while attempting to land, killing all five people on board. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is probing the incident, and officials said further details would be shared as the investigation progresses.
“We have begun the investigation into the crash,” Naidu told reporters, adding that all aspects leading to the tragedy would be examined thoroughly.
The minister described Pawar’s death as a deep loss to Maharashtra, calling him an inspirational leader whose work and administrative legacy would be remembered for years.
Ajit Pawar, he said, had played a significant role in shaping Maharashtra through decades of public service. He was inspirational in terms of how he worked for the state and with the people of Maharashtra, Naidu said.
Referring to preliminary information, the civil aviation minister said initial reports indicated that visibility was somewhat poor when the aircraft attempted to land, though he stressed that the investigation would establish the exact sequence and causes behind the crash.
When ATC Baramati asked the pilot whether the runway was in sight, the response was negative, following which the aircraft executed a go-around, he said.
During the second landing attempt, ATC again asked whether the runway was in sight, to which the pilot responded in the affirmative, the minister said.
Expressing personal grief, Naidu said the loss had been difficult to process. “I am very saddened by the incident. In fact, my heart is still very, very heavy with sorrow. Ever since we received the news this morning, it has been extremely difficult to accept that Ajit Dada is no longer with us,” he said.
“My heartfelt condolences go out to his family and to the families of the four others who were on board the aircraft,” the minister added.
The chartered plane crashed near Baramati while attempting to land, killing all five people on board. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is probing the incident, and officials said further details would be shared as the investigation progresses.
