Discover Learjet 45: The Learjet 45 arrived on the business aviation scene in the late 1990s with a simple promise: offer the speed and performance of a high-powered jet without the bulky size or operating costs of larger aircraft. For more than two decades, it remained one of the most trusted platforms for corporate travel, charter operations, and time-sensitive missions. Yet the tragic crash on January 28, 2026, that claimed the life of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and four others has brought renewed scrutiny to this iconic aircraft and its growing accident record.
This article explores everything about the Learjet 45 – from its engineering and practical capabilities to its specifications, pricing, and the concerning pattern of incidents that now defines its safety narrative.
A Machine Built for Speed and Efficiency
When Bombardier Aerospace introduced the Learjet 45, it represented something different in business aviation. Unlike earlier Learjet models that carried forward Swiss fighter-jet design heritage, the Model 45 was a clean-sheet design created from the ground up. The aircraft emerged from a clear market need: deliver mid-range performance at super-light operating costs.
The Learjet 45 (LJ45) is a mid-size business jet aircraft produced by the Learjet Division of Bombardier Aerospace, developed in the 1990s as a competitor in the super-light business jet category. It positioned itself directly against the popular Cessna Citation Excel, but with a critical advantage – speed. Where the Citation offered comfort and stand-up cabin height, the Learjet 45 sacrificed cabin headroom in exchange for something pilots and executives valued more: velocity and fuel efficiency.
Core Engineering Approach:
The Model 45 used a lighter, less-robust structure compared to earlier Learjet designs, affording less cost in manufacture and lower aircraft empty weights, resulting in improved capacity, efficiency and some performance enhancement. This pragmatic engineering choice became both a strength and, eventually, a source of concern for aviation safety regulators.
Specifications That Speak to Real-World Utility
The Learjet 45 was never designed to dazzle with raw performance numbers. Instead, every specification reflected a philosophy of practical utility for time-sensitive business travel.
Performance Characteristics:
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Engine Type | Two Honeywell TFE731-20AR turbofan engines |
| Engine Thrust | 3,500 pounds per engine |
| Maximum Cruise Speed | 464 knots (534 mph / 860 km/h) |
| Cruising Altitude | Up to 51,000 feet |
| Range | 1,971 nautical miles (3,650 km) with four passengers |
| Balanced Field Length | 4,405 feet at maximum takeoff weight |
| Maximum Takeoff Weight | 20,200 pounds |
| Seating Capacity | 6-8 passengers plus crew |
| Cabin Length | Flat-floor design with 4.9 feet headroom |
| Cabin Volume | 410 cubic feet |
What These Numbers Mean:
The aircraft also has exceptionally short runway requirements for mid-size bizjets, capable of loaded flights from 4,000-foot runways. This capability made the Learjet 45 ideal for regional airports and remote locations where larger jets simply could not operate. The aircraft could depart from a 4,000-foot runway, climb to cruising altitude, cover nearly 2,000 nautical miles, and arrive at another regional airport – all without the infrastructure demands of major hubs.
The Learjet 45XR: Incremental Perfection
In 2004, Bombardier introduced the XR (Extended Range) variant, which addressed the only real criticism leveled at the original model: limited payload when carrying maximum fuel.
The Learjet 45XR is an upgraded version of the Model 45, offering substantially higher takeoff weights, faster cruise speeds and faster time-to-climb rates than the Model 45, chiefly through modifications to the engine. The XR variant increased maximum takeoff weight by 1,000 pounds and upgraded the engines to the TFE731-20BR configuration, delivering 3,500 pounds of thrust even in hot conditions.
For operators running scheduled charter services or conducting medical evacuation flights, the XR variant represented the sweet spot: genuine mid-size capability with light-jet operating economics.
Interior Comfort Designed for Business Travelers
Step inside a Learjet 45, and the design philosophy becomes immediately apparent. This is not a luxury palace – it is a functional office in the sky.
The cabin features leather seating, fold-out tables, and ample baggage storage, with a fully enclosed lavatory, making it ideal for both short and medium-haul flights. The flat-floor cabin configuration, rare for aircraft of this size, allows easier movement and a sense of roominess despite the aircraft’s compact external dimensions.
Cabin Features Include:
- Double-club seating arrangement for up to 8 passengers
- Fully enclosed toilet facilities
- 15 cubic feet internal baggage area
- 50 cubic feet external nose baggage compartment
- Advanced avionics suite with Honeywell Primus 1000 EFIS
- TCAS II and enhanced ground proximity warning systems
- Modern lighting and climate control
For business travelers spending four to six hours in the air, the Learjet 45 cabin environment represented a significant step up from commercial air travel, without the complexity and noise of larger turbojets.
Pricing: The Business Case for Mid-Size Jets
The Learjet 45 occupied an interesting market position – expensive enough to require serious financial commitment, but affordable enough for mid-sized corporations and charter operators to deploy as revenue-generating assets.
Historical and Current Pricing:
By 2018, Learjet 45/45XR aircraft were priced at $1.5–4.9 million depending on configuration and market conditions. More recent pricing data indicates even higher values: As of Q2 2024, the list price of the Learjet 45 is $10,300,000.
This dramatic price increase reflects several factors: scarcity (production ended in 2012), inflation, and strong demand from operators seeking used aircraft as new aircraft deliveries stretched into multi-year queues. Interestingly, resale values have climbed steadily. Used Learjet 45s from the early 2000s that originally sold for $8 million now command prices approaching $6 million – counter-intuitive for aging aircraft but reflecting the model’s proven operating economics and continued market demand.
Operating Economics:
The Learjet 45 operates at direct hourly costs comparable to much smaller light jets – approximately $1,800 per hour. This efficiency, combined with its superior speed and altitude capability, made it the economic sweet spot for many charter operators and corporate flight departments throughout the 2000s and 2010s.
The January 28, 2026 Tragedy: What Happened
The sunny morning of January 28, 2026, began as routine for Learjet 45XR registration VT-SSK, operated by Delhi-based VSR Ventures. The aircraft departed from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai at approximately 8:10 AM for what should have been a 40-minute flight to Baramati Airport in Maharashtra.
On board were five people: pilot Sumit Kapur (16,500 hours of flight experience), co-pilot Shambhavi Pathak, flight attendant Pinky Mali, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, and his personal security officer Vidip Jadhav.
The Sequence of Events:
Approximately 35 minutes into the flight, as the Learjet 45XR began its descent toward Baramati, conditions deteriorated. The airstrip at Baramati is a small, table-top facility without precision landing aids like Instrument Landing Systems (ILS). Pilots approaching Baramati must rely on visual references and basic navigation capabilities.
Flight tracking data showed the aircraft was attempting a second approach to Baramati airport when it crashed, with the aircraft attempting a visual landing in low visibility conditions. The first approach was aborted. During the second attempt, at approximately 8:45 AM local time, the aircraft lost control near the runway threshold.
At approximately 09:12 IST, the aircraft crashed while attempting a second approach to runway 11 at Baramati Airport, veering off the runway, bursting into flames, and being destroyed on impact. All five people on board perished instantly.
A Troubling Safety Pattern: Learjet 45 Accident History
The Baramati tragedy did not occur in isolation. The Learjet 45 has accumulated a concerning accident record spanning decades and continents. Globally, around 200 accidents have been linked to Learjet aircraft, though the model remains a popular choice for charter operations.
Critical Incidents Involving Learjet 45/45XR Aircraft:
2003 – Milan Linate, Italy A Learjet 45 struck a flock of pigeons shortly after takeoff from Milan Linate Airport, disabling both engines. The pilots attempted to return but lost control during the descent, crashing the jet into a factory less than two minutes after takeoff.
2008 – Mexico City A government-operated Learjet 45 crashed on Monte Pelvoux Avenue during approach to Mexico City airport after encountering wake turbulence from a larger aircraft. All nine people on board were killed along with seven on the ground, including Mexico’s interior minister Juan Camilo Mouriño Terrazo and senior government officials. This remains one of the deadliest Learjet accidents.
2023 – Mumbai Incident (VSR Ventures) Another Learjet operated by VSR (the same operator involved in the Baramati crash) arriving from Visakhapatnam crash landed in Mumbai airport in September 2023 during heavy rain and reduced visibility, with all eight occupants surviving but several injured. This near-identical incident three years prior now stands as an eerie precursor.
Landing Gear Concerns: The US-based National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) had flagged landing gear defects in the Learjet 45, and the model had been involved in three accidents worldwide in 2022, 2023, and 2025 – all related to landing issues. A 2025 Arizona incident resulted in left main landing gear separation, prompting urgent NTSB recommendations to manufacturer Bombardier.
Probable Cause: Weather, Complexity, and System Limitations
While the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) continues its formal probe, preliminary analysis suggests a convergence of factors rather than single cause.
Contributing Factors:
- Low Visibility: Dense fog enveloped the Baramati region on the morning of January 28, reducing visual reference significantly
- Runway Limitations: Baramati airport lacks ILS facilities, forcing pilots to conduct manual visual approaches even in marginal weather
- Age and Maintenance: The VT-SSK aircraft was 16 years old at the time of the crash, though VSR claimed full airworthiness
- Pilot Workload: Conducting a go-around (aborted landing) followed immediately by a second approach creates elevated cognitive and physical demands
The tragic sequence appears to have unfolded as: aborted first approach due to inability to see runway → immediate repositioning for second attempt → loss of situational awareness or control inputs → crash near runway threshold.
Featured News: X Post Response to the Tragedy
Trending Video: Exclusive CCTV Footage from Baramati
The CCTV footage above, captured from a camera near Baramati Airport, shows the aircraft’s final descent and impact. The footage, while difficult to watch, has become central to the investigation and provides critical data regarding approach trajectory and impact dynamics.
The Broader Question: Should the Learjet 45 Still Be Flying?
The January 28 tragedy has ignited debate within aviation circles about whether aging business jets should continue operating, particularly in challenging weather conditions at small regional airports.
Defenders of the Learjet 45 point to its proven reliability in normal conditions and its economic necessity for charter operators serving remote locations. The aircraft’s short-field performance remains genuinely valuable for places like Baramati where larger jets cannot operate.
Critics counter that a model designed in the 1990s now lacks the redundancy, automation, and weather capability of modern jets. The pattern of landing incidents is difficult to dismiss.
A Moment of Reflection
The Learjet 45 represented a genuine innovation when it arrived – fast enough for business, economical enough for widespread adoption, versatile enough for challenging environments. For more than two decades, thousands of these aircraft carried businesspeople, families, and officials across the world reliably.
Yet the January 28, 2026 crash reminds us that aviation, no matter how mature, demands respect. The convergence of weather, airport limitations, aging aircraft systems, and human factors created a fatal moment that separated five families from their loved ones.
As investigators continue their work and the AAIB releases its findings, the Learjet 45 community faces an uncertain future. Questions about maintenance standards, pilot training, and operational limitations in marginal weather will likely reshape how – and where – these aircraft continue to operate.
For now, the charred wreckage at Baramati serves as a sobering reminder that even practical, proven aircraft demand our utmost attention to detail, weather awareness, and safety-first decision making.
Key Takeaways About the Learjet 45
- Introduced: Late 1990s; production ended 2012 (45XR variant continued until 2021)
- Manufacturer: Bombardier Aerospace (originally Learjet)
- Positioning: Mid-size business jet in super-light operating cost bracket
- Total Built: 640+ aircraft across all variants
- Pricing: $1.5-$10.3 million depending on age and configuration
- Operating Cost: ~$1,800/hour (competitive with light jets)
- Key Advantage: Exceptional short-field performance for regional operations
- Known Issues: Landing gear incidents, susceptibility to adverse weather during approach phases
- Current Status: Still widely operated despite 2021 production cessation
The Learjet 45 remains – for now – a fixture in global business aviation. But the events of January 28, 2026, have ensured it will be remembered not just for its contributions to efficient travel, but for the tragic reminder that even mature aviation systems demand constant vigilance and respect.