Mumbai

Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchand Pawar) leader Rohit Pawar on Tuesday raised questions over the circumstances leading to the death of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in a plane crash, saying doubts persist in the public mind and calling for a thorough investigation.

Addressing a press conference on the Baramati air crash, Rohit Pawar said uncertainty and grief continued to surround the incident, with several unanswered questions about the final hours before the crash.

“Across Maharashtra, people are questioning whether Ajit Dada’s plane crash was an accident or part of a conspiracy. Some people still feel he may return from somewhere. There are claims that six people were on board and doubts over identification. It all feels like a nightmare,” he said.

Rohit Pawar pointed to last-minute changes in Ajit Pawar’s travel plans as the basis for suspicion, particularly events in the 24 hours preceding the crash. He claimed that Ajit Pawar was scheduled to travel by road from Mumbai to Pune on the evening before the incident and that the security convoy had already begun preparations, but the journey did not take place.

He also referred to a reported meeting with a “senior leader” that may have led to a sudden change in itinerary.

“We have looked into certain aspects of the incident. There is a book which mentions that targeting a person’s driver is often the easiest way to harm them. Why did Dada not travel by car as planned? Why was there a sudden change? These questions need answers,” Rohit Pawar said.

Ajit Pawar died on January 28 when a chartered Learjet 45 flying from Mumbai to Baramati crash-landed near the runway threshold at Baramati airport. According to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), five people, including crew members, were killed in the accident.

The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) and the DGCA are conducting a probe into the crash. Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol said the aircraft’s black box has been recovered and is currently being analysed.

“The black box has been secured, and teams from the AAIB and DGCA are examining the data. Once analysis is completed, a preliminary report will be released,” Mohol told reporters.

He said investigation teams from both agencies reached the crash site on the day of the incident and that the Director General of AAIB also visited the location to supervise initial proceedings.

The inquiry is being conducted under Rules 5 and 11 of the AAIB Rules, 2025, to determine the circumstances that led to the loss of control during the aircraft’s attempted landing amid reportedly poor visibility.

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Authorities have emphasised that the investigation is ongoing and cautioned against drawing conclusions before the analysis is complete.