India, Jan. 29 -- According to eyewitnesses, the aircraft that crashed near Baramati turned into a massive fireball within seconds of hitting the ground, triggering multiple explosions that shook the entire area Wednesday morning.

The crash occurred at around 8.50 am when the plane carrying Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar and four others went down around 1.5 to 2 km from Baramati airport. Officials said poor visibility may have contributed to the accident. Ajit Pawar and all others on board died on the spot.

Residents living close to the crash site said that the intensity of the fire and the explosions left them with no chance to rescue anyone. "There were four to five loud explosions one after the other," locals said, reca...