Mumbai/Baramati, Jan 27:
Reports circulating on Wednesday claiming that a plane crash had killed Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar triggered widespread panic before being categorically denied by aviation and state authorities. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) clarified that no aircraft carrying the senior Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader was involved in any crash.
The rumours suggested that a chartered aircraft flying from Mumbai had crash-landed at Baramati airport, Pawar’s constituency, resulting in multiple fatalities. Flight-tracking references and unverified eyewitness accounts were widely shared on social media, further fuelling confusion. Some posts even cited an alleged second landing attempt and explosions after impact.
However, DGCA officials stated there was no record of any Learjet or chartered aircraft accident at Baramati airport on Wednesday morning. State authorities also confirmed that Ajit Pawar was safe and not involved in any aviation-related incident.
Sources said Pawar had attended official engagements in Mumbai earlier and was scheduled to travel to Baramati for political meetings linked to upcoming local body elections. His travel plans remained unchanged, officials added.
Aviation experts noted that misinformation often spreads rapidly when flight-tracking data is misinterpreted or taken out of context. “Radar gaps or signal loss do not automatically indicate a crash,” an official explained.
The Maharashtra Police warned against spreading unverified information related to public figures and aviation safety, stating that such rumours can cause unnecessary panic and may invite legal action.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not issue any statement related to a crash, contrary to claims circulating online. Officials urged citizens to rely only on confirmed updates from government agencies and credible media outlets.
The incident once again underlined the dangers of misinformation in the digital age and the need for verification before sharing sensitive news.
