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| Fact Check: Did Wikipedia Update Ajit Pawar's Death Hours Before Baramati Plane Crash? |
The Incident
On January 28, Pawar was traveling aboard a Learjet 45XR, a twin-engine light business jet, from Mumbai to his political stronghold of Baramati. The aircraft, which departed at 8:10 AM and was scheduled to land at 8:50 AM, crashed during landing. All five people on board—including two pilots, a flight attendant, Pawar's security personnel, and the Deputy Chief Minister himself—were killed. Eyewitnesses reported that the aircraft was engulfed in flames at the crash site.
The Viral Screenshot
Following the tragedy, a screenshot of Pawar's Wikipedia page began circulating online, appearing to show his death had been updated on the platform hours before the crash occurred. The image fueled speculation and conspiracy theories about whether the incident was truly accidental.
Understanding the Discrepancy
Several factors may explain the confusion surrounding the Wikipedia timestamp:
Time Zone Differences
Wikipedia operates on Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), which is 5 hours and 30 minutes behind Indian Standard Time (IST). This means a Wikipedia edit made at 10:30 AM IST would display as 5:00 AM UTC. This time zone conversion could easily create the impression that information was posted earlier than it actually was, particularly for users unfamiliar with how Wikipedia timestamps work.
Potential Image Manipulation
Close examination of the viral screenshot reveals apparent inconsistencies. The date shown in the image is January 27—a full day before the crash—and the year appears as "20266," suggesting possible editing or manipulation. Such obvious errors point toward the screenshot being fabricated rather than authentic.
Wikipedia's Open-Edit Nature
As an open-source platform, Wikipedia allows registered users to edit pages. While the site typically hosts verified information, isolated incidents of misleading or altered data have occurred in the past.
Political Reactions
The crash has generated strong political reactions, with some leaders calling for thorough investigations.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee issued a video statement demanding "a proper investigation under the supervision of the Supreme Court," expressing trust only in the apex court rather than other agencies, which she claimed have been "completely compromised."
However, Nationalist Congress Party (SCP) chief Sharad Pawar, the deceased leader's uncle, moved to quash conspiracy theories. In his statement, the veteran politician emphasized that his nephew's death was "purely an accident" and should not be "politicized."
"Ajit Pawar's untimely death is a massive shock to Maharashtra. Today, the state has lost a capable and decisive leader," Sharad Pawar said. "I learned that some media outlets have taken a stance from Kolkata suggesting that there is some politics behind this accident. But there is no politics in this; it is purely an accident. Please do not bring politics into this."
The Verdict
At the time of publication, Ajit Pawar's Wikipedia page displays accurate information consistent with confirmed reports of the incident. The viral screenshot claiming his death was updated hours before the crash appears to be either manipulated or misunderstood due to time zone confusion.
While questions about the cause of the crash remain—and investigations are ongoing—there is no credible evidence supporting the conspiracy theory that information about Pawar's death was somehow known in advance. The tragedy appears to be an unfortunate accident, as stated by family members and confirmed by initial findings.
The incident serves as a reminder of how quickly misinformation can spread in the digital age, particularly during emotionally charged situations. As Maharashtra mourns the loss of a prominent political figure, authorities continue to investigate the technical causes behind the fatal crash.
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