Chartered aircraft went down during landing; investigation ordered as identity details awaited
January 28, 2026: India’s aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), has confirmed that six people were killed after a chartered aircraft crashed near Baramati in Maharashtra. According to the DGCA, the plane went down during the landing phase close to the airport boundary. All occupants onboard, including passengers and crew, lost their lives in the incident.
The regulator said the aircraft was a chartered plane typically used for VIP travel, but the passenger manifest and identities of those onboard have not yet been officially released. Several media reports have claimed that Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar was travelling in the aircraft at the time of the crash, though no confirmation has been issued so far by his office or family members.
Preliminary information suggests a possible technical failure during landing, while weather conditions in Baramati were reported to be clear at the time of the incident. Emergency teams rushed to the site soon after the crash. The DGCA has said that the exact cause will be determined following a detailed probe by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), as authorities continue to assess the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.