In a tragic aircraft crash, Maharashtra Deputy CM and NCP chief Ajit Pawar lost his life, along with the two pilots of the airplane, an attendant, and one security officer. Pawar was on board a Learjet 45 charter plane, which crashed while attempting to make a safe landing at the Baramati airport in Maharashtra.
The Learjet 45 jet has been involved in a number of crashes in the past. Here's a look at the major accidents that involved the Learjet 45 before the Baramati crash.
Mexico City, Mexico - 2008
(Photo courtesy: Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archive)
Nine people on board a government-operated Learjet 45 were killed when the aircraft crashed in Mexico City, along with seven people on the ground, on November 4, 2008. The crash claimed a total of 16 lives.
Those killed included some of Mexico's most senior officials. Among them was Interior Minister Juan Camilo Mouriño Terrazo. Also on board were Jose Luis Santiago Vasconcelos, a top government official, General Attorney Miguel Monterrubio Cubas, and Miguel Monterrubio Cubas, Director for Social Communication.
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Telluride, United States - 2009
(Photo courtesy: Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archive)
All those on board escaped without injuries after a Learjet 45XR was damaged during a landing attempt at Telluride airport in Colorado on January 3, 2009.
The aircraft suffered heavy damage, especially to its wing and fuselage, leaving the plane badly battered.
Veracruz, Mexico - 2021
(Photo courtesy: Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archive)
Six military personnel on board were killed after a Mexican Air Force Learjet 45 crashed shortly after taking off from El Lencero airport on February 21, 2021. This marked the second-deadliest crash of the aircraft after the crash in Mexico City in 2008.
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Mumbai, India - 2023
(Photo courtesy: Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archive)
All eight people on board survived after a Learjet 45 ran off the runway while landing at Mumbai airport in heavy rain. The aircraft split into two, and a small fire broke out after the mishap. Several passengers were injured.
Xalapa, Mexico - 2023
(Photo courtesy: Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archive)
All seven people on board were rescued after a Learjet 45 ran out of control at El Lencero airport. The jet slid off the runway and ended up on grassy ground after landing.
The Baramati crash has once again put the spotlight on the Learjet 45's safety record. While the aircraft has operated safely in many parts of the world, its history shows repeated involvement in serious accidents, often during critical phases like takeoff and landing.
