Ajit Pawar plane crash: How NCP leader's dead body was identified amid the wreckage | Know here
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar was killed after an aircraft carrying them crashed in Pune district on Wednesday morning. The incident occurred when the plane carrying Pawar and four others crashed-landed near Baramati.
In a tragic revelation that highlights the sheer severity of the plane crash in Baramati, sources have said that Ajit Pawar's body was identified through his wristwatch. According to sources, the watch became his final proof of identity, offering a grim indication of how devastating the accident was. Notably, Pawar was often seen wearing a silver-chained watch with a black dial, although it remains unclear which watch he had worn on Wednesday morning -- the day of the fatal plane crash.
AAIB team to probe plane crash
Notably, a special team of the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) will investigate the aircraft crash in Baramati. During the course of the investigation, the probe team will retrieve the flight recorder, Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System (EGPWS) and Digital Engine Electronic System (DEES). Airframe and engine logbooks, work orders, on-board documents, and major inspection records related to the aircraft will be gathered from the operator for scrutiny.
The probe team has also sought the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) documents related to the crew and the aircraft. Recordings of radar data, CCTV footage, ATC tape recordings, and hotline communications will be obtained for further analysis. The investigation team will record the statements of witnesses and concerned personnel.
Three-day state mourning in Maharashtra
Following the incident, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadanvis has announced a state holiday and three days of mourning following the demise of Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, in a plane crash this morning. Addressing a press conference in Mumbai, CM Fadanvis said that the decision on Pawar's last rites will be made after consulting his family. "Today, we have declared a state holiday, and three days of state mourning have also been announced. This is a completely irreparable loss for the whole state of Maharashtra," the CM said.
Ajit Pawar's death in plane crash
It is to be noted here that the NCP chief died in a charter plane crash while travelling from Mumbai to Bramanti this morning. He was in Mumbai on January 27, where he attended a meeting of the Maharashtra Cabinet Committee on Infrastructure, chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. 66-year-old Pawar was the nephew of veteran politician and NCP founder Sharad Pawar, and the cousin of Lok Sabha MP Supriya Sule.
Notably, Ajit Pawar was also the longest-serving Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra non-consecutively. He served in the position for six terms within various governments. He had worked as deputy chief minister in the cabinets of Prithviraj Chavan, Devendra Fadnavis, Uddhav Thackeray and Eknath Shinde. He is survived by his wife, Sunetra Pawar and two sons, Jay and Parth Pawar.
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