India, Jan. 29 -- On the morning of January 28, 2026, a private jet carrying Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and four others crashed during its landing attempt at Baramati airport, spotlighting serious safety and infrastructure shortcomings at the small airstrip. The airport's limited facilities have become a central part of the investigation and discussions about aviation safety in smaller Indian airports.

The Learjet 45 flight, operating from Mumbai to Baramati, attempted to land at around 8:44 AM. After an initial missed approach due to poor visibility, the aircraft attempted a second approach but crashed near the runway and burst into flames, killing all on board.

Poor weather conditions and a lack of advanced landing s...