Ajit Pawar flight crash probe: Low visibility, pilot pressure blamed in Baramati tragedy

Ajit Pawar flight crash probe: Low visibility, pilot pressure blamed in Baramati tragedy Ajit Pawar flight crash probe: Captain Sumit Kapoor brought 16,000+ flying hours, backed by co-pilot Sambhavi Pathak's 1,500 hours; YSR Aviation ruled out mechanical faults. Mumbai:Preliminary investigations into the Learjet 45 crash involving Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar at Baramati airport point to low visibility and alleged pressure from the leader to land despite ATC warnings. The incident, captured on CCTV and flight data, has sparked scrutiny of non-scheduled operator YSR Ventures amid a tight schedule of rallies and Mumbai meetings. Pilot experience and clean technical recordCaptain Sumit Kapoor boasted over 16,000 flying hours, with co-pilot Sambhavi Pathak at 1,500 hours; YSR Aviation confirmed no mechanical issues. This high-profile crash renews calls for stricter VIP flight protocols, weather adherence, and oversight of private charters in election seasons.