Ajit Pawar’s Plane Crash, August 9 Runway Mishap: Why Baramati Airstrip Is Getting Rs 100-Crore Overhaul

Published 10 August 2026 · local

News explainers Ajit Pawar’s Plane Crash, August 9 Runway Mishap: Why Baramati Airstrip Is Getting Rs 100-Crore Overhaul Ajit Pawar’s Plane Crash, August 9 Runway

News explainers Ajit Pawar’s Plane Crash, August 9 Runway Mishap: Why Baramati Airstrip Is Getting Rs 100-Crore Overhaul Ajit Pawar’s Plane Crash, August 9 Runway Mishap: Why Baramati Airstrip Is Getting Rs 100-Crore Overhaul Written By, Last Updated: August 10, 2026, 19:21 IST Ajit Pawar’s Death, August 9 Runway Mishap: The incidents, concerns and Rs 100-crore overhaul plan for the Baramati airstrip, News18 explains Rapid Read File photo of Ajit Pawar's plane crash site in Baramati. On August 9, 2026, a trainer aircraft operated by a private aviation academy suffered a runway excursion incident at the Baramati airfield in Maharashtra’s Pune district. This comes months after then Maharashtra deputy CM and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Ajit Pawar’s death. The incidents, concerns and Rs 100-crore overhaul plan for the Baramati airstrip, News18 explains. WHAT HAPPENED ON AUGUST 9? The aircraft overshot the runway and skidded off the extended paved surface during an aborted takeoff/landing training exercise. Fortunately, no casualties or injuries were reported, and the trainee pilot escaped completely unharmed. The aircraft sustained minor damage to its propeller, engine cowling, and nose landing gear. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and an air safety team have launched a probe to determine the exact technical or operational cause of the mishap.

AJIT PAWAR’S DEATH This runway excursion is the second aviation incident at the airfield since the tragic charter plane crash on January 28, 2026, which claimed the life of the then Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and four others. Another training flight incident also occurred nearby on May 13. Following Ajit Pawar’s fatal crash, which involved a Learjet 45 struggling with low visibility and poor airfield infrastructure, the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) flagged issues like fading runway markings and loose gravel. In response to these recurring safety concerns, the Maharashtra government recently finalised a ₹100 crore plan to completely overhaul and modernise the Baramati airstrip. THE BARAMATI AIRSTRIP: SECURITY CONCERNS The Baramati airstrip has faced severe safety issues for years. Despite hosting dual private flying schools and handling high-profile VVIP flights, it has remained largely neglected and lacks standard aviation infrastructure, according to reports. No Dedicated ATC: The airport operates as an uncontrolled airfield. Trainee students currently run a makeshift, VHF-based advisory unit rather than professional Air Traffic Control personnel. No Emergency Response: The facility lacks basic emergency services. During Ajit Pawar’s crash, there was no fire tender stationed at the airfield, requiring one to be dispatched from the local municipal council.