“It Fell Like a Falling Star”: Villagers’ Terrifying Firsthand Accounts of Baramati Plane Crash That Killed Deputy CM Ajit Pawar
Baramati, 28th January 2026: “It looked like a falling star, but then everything just exploded.” Residents near Baramati Airport still tremble as they recount in vivid detail the horrifying sequence of events that unfolded in the final minutes before the tragic plane crash claiming the life of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar.
What began as an ordinary afternoon turned into a scene of shock and devastation for locals who saw the private aircraft approach the runway in apparent distress. Witnesses described the jet as unstable in its descent, swaying alarmingly against a backdrop of normal evening activity in the area.
“Moments Later There Was an Explosion…”
“One moment we were talking, and the next everyone pointed up,” said one onlooker. “It looked like the plane might land, but then it tilted and fell… and moments later there was a loud explosion.” The resident remembers the blast echoing through the fields, followed by thick black smoke rising into the sky.
Another witness described hearing multiple blasts in rapid succession. “First it hit the ground, and then boom — boom — boom… four or five explosions one after another,” he said. “The fire was too huge. We wanted to help, but we couldn’t even get close.”
Desperate Attempts to Save Lives-
Immediately after the impact, villagers and passersby ran toward the crash site in a desperate bid to help. However, intense flames and repeated explosions made it too dangerous to approach the wreckage. “We tried to pull people out,” one resident said, tears in his eyes, “but the fire was so strong… there was nothing we could do.”
Only later did many realise that the Deputy Chief Minister, known to them from news and public life, was among those on board. “It hit us deeply,” another witness said. “Not just because it was a leader, but because it was human beings… families.”
Plane Plummeted Just Short of Runway, Witnesses Say-
Several accounts suggested the aircraft nosedived from an estimated height of nearly 100 feet just before the runway. “It felt like it might touch down… but instead it dropped,” a resident recounted. “People around us screamed… and then came the explosions.”
The crash has sent waves of grief across the state. Yet amid the ongoing technical investigation, it is the human memories — the thunderous blasts, smoke rising against the sky, and frantic attempts to help — that remain etched in the minds of Baramati residents. Many say it is an experience they will never forget.
