Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, aged 66, has died after the plane he was travelling in crashed while attempting to land at Baramati Airport on Wednesday morning, aviation officials confirmed. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said there were no survivors among the people on board.
The accident occurred at about 8:45 a.m. when the chartered Learjet 45 aircraft, operated by VSR Aviation, was coming in to land at Baramati, which is in Pune district of Maharashtra. According to the DGCA, the plane went off the runway during landing and crashed.
Ajit Pawar was flying from Mumbai to Baramati to take part in several political events ahead of the ongoing Panchayat elections in the state. Sources say he was scheduled to address four election rallies in the Baramati area.
On board the aircraft with him were his personal security officer, an assistant, and two crew members — the pilot and co-pilot. The DGCA confirmed that all five people on board were killed in the crash.
Local emergency teams and airport staff rushed to the scene after the crash, where visuals showed wreckage and smoke near the runway. The extent of damage suggested a violent impact, and rescue officials later confirmed that there were no survivors.
News of the tragedy drew immediate reactions from political leaders across India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke with Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to inquire about the crash and express condolences. Several national and regional leaders also mourned the loss of Pawar, describing the incident as a tragic moment for Maharashtra politics.
Ajit Pawar was a senior leader of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and played a significant role in Maharashtra’s government and political landscape. His sudden death in the plane crash has shocked both supporters and political opponents alike.
Officials from the DGCA and local authorities are currently investigating the cause of the crash, examining flight data and the circumstances that led to the aircraft veering off the runway. A formal accident investigation is expected to release more detailed findings in the coming days.
