Wednesday, January 28, 2026 began with routine campaign travel, then turned into Maharashtra’s biggest breaking story in minutes, becoming Latest News in India. A chartered aircraft flying from Mumbai to Baramati went down during an attempted landing, killing Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and four others on board, officials said.
Minute-By-Minute: What We Know So Far
Reports say the flight lifted off from Mumbai around 8:10 a.m. and was headed to Baramati for election-related campaign events. By about 8:45 a.m., the aircraft appeared to attempt an emergency landing near the runway but crashed into an open field, splitting apart and erupting into fire and thick smoke. Eyewitnesses described a massive blast followed by further explosions as fuel ignited.
Videos from the scene showed debris and scattered papers near the wreckage as firefighters worked the flames and police cleared onlookers; the DGCA said it has opened an investigation into the cause. Police sealed the runway approach and airport operations were halted as teams mapped the debris field and began interviews. Across parties, rallies were called off and condolences poured in through the morning.
The Viral Moments Online
Within an hour, short videos of twisted metal and a smoke column ricocheted across X and Instagram, and live-update pages kept refreshing with minute-stamped posts. One of the most-shared official messages came from the President of India.
What Happens Next
Aviation investigators are expected to secure the perimeter, recover onboard recorders if available, and examine maintenance logs, weather, and air-traffic communication. Until the DGCA releases preliminary findings, officials and newsrooms are urging people to avoid unverified “cause” claims and circulate only confirmed information.
