Sunetra Pawar Seeks CBI Probe as AAIB Continues Investigation into Baramati Learjet Crash

Mumbai/Baramati, 18th February 2026: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar has formally demanded a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry into the January 28 Learjet crash in Baramati that claimed the lives of senior Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Ajit Pawar and four others, intensifying political scrutiny over the incident.

The demand was submitted during a meeting with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in Mumbai. Sunetra Pawar was accompanied by senior NCP leaders Sunil Tatkare, Praful Patel, Hassan Mushrif, and her son Parth Pawar. The delegation handed over a written request seeking a federal-level probe, citing concerns that the crash may not have been accidental.

The fatal crash occurred on January 28 in Baramati, Pune district, involving a Learjet 45 aircraft bearing registration VT-SSK. The incident sent shockwaves across Maharashtra’s political landscape, given Ajit Pawar’s stature within the state.

The call for a CBI investigation follows remarks made earlier this month by NCP (SP) leader Rohit Pawar, who publicly questioned whether the crash was purely accidental. On February 10, he pointed to alleged last-minute changes in the flight schedule, uncertainties surrounding landing procedures, and reports that the pilot had been replaced shortly before departure.

Rohit Pawar also referred to discussions involving Flight Captain Sumit Kapoor and sought clarity regarding the role of the private aviation company that operated the aircraft.

Meanwhile, the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has confirmed that its statutory inquiry is ongoing under the Aircraft (Investigation of Accidents and Incidents) Rules, 2017, in accordance with international norms outlined in the International Civil Aviation Organization’s Annex 13 guidelines.

Even as the AAIB continues its technical investigation, Sunetra Pawar’s demand for a CBI probe signals mounting political pressure for a broader and independent examination of the circumstances leading up to the tragedy that claimed five lives.

In an official statement issued through the Press Information Bureau, authorities said the aircraft was equipped with two flight recorders — a Digital Flight Data Recorder (DFDR) and a Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR). Both devices sustained severe damage due to the intense heat and fire that followed the crash. Technical teams are currently working to extract recoverable data from the recorders.