Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar Killed in Baramati Plane Crash

• Ajit Pawar dies in plane crash near Baramati airport

• Four others, including pilots and security staff, also killed

• Aircraft was flying from Mumbai to Baramati

• DGCA confirms no survivors; probe ordered

GG News Bureau
Baramati, Maharashtra |28 January: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and senior Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Ajit Pawar died in a tragic plane crash on Wednesday morning near Baramati in Pune district. Four others, including the pilots and Pawar’s security personnel, were also killed in the accident, officials confirmed.

The private aircraft was travelling from Mumbai to Baramati and took off at around 8 a.m. According to preliminary reports, the plane crashed while attempting to land at Baramati airport approximately 45 minutes later. Ajit Pawar was scheduled to attend four important public meetings in the region ahead of the upcoming local body elections.

Crash Details

Visuals from the crash site showed thick smoke, fire, and mangled debris of the aircraft scattered near the airport premises. Emergency response teams, including fire services and ambulances, rushed to the spot soon after the crash. Despite rescue efforts, authorities later confirmed that all five people on board died on impact.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) stated that there were no survivors and that a detailed investigation has been launched to ascertain the cause of the accident.

Victims Identified

Those killed in the crash include:

• Ajit Pawar (66), Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister
• Two pilots
• Two members of Pawar’s security and support staff

Political Background

Ajit Pawar was a key figure in Maharashtra politics and one of the most influential leaders of the NCP. He was the nephew of veteran politician and NCP founder Sharad Pawar and the cousin of Lok Sabha MP Supriya Sule. Sharad Pawar and Supriya Sule were in Delhi attending Parliament’s budget session at the time of the incident and are expected to return to Maharashtra shortly.

In 2023, Ajit Pawar led a major rebellion within the NCP, splitting the party into two factions—one led by him and the other by Sharad Pawar. He later joined the NDA alliance and became Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra. In recent months, there had been discussions about a possible reunion of the two NCP factions, and both groups jointly contested the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation elections.

As of now, no official statement has been issued by the Pawar family, the NCP leadership, or the Maharashtra government regarding the tragedy.

Aircraft Information

The flight was operated by a private aviation company VSR, and the aircraft involved was a Learjet 45. Notably, an aircraft of the same model had earlier crashed in Mumbai in September 2023, raising renewed concerns over safety issues related to the jet type.

Condolences Pour In

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep shock over Pawar’s death, calling it “shocking and saddening.” In a post on X, the Prime Minister said Ajit Pawar was a mass leader with a strong grassroots connection and praised his administrative skills and dedication to public service.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah is learnt to have left for Pune soon after receiving news of the crash. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also expressed grief, stating that Pawar devoted his entire public life to the development of Maharashtra and the welfare of its people.

Investigation Underway

The DGCA and other aviation authorities have begun a detailed probe into the crash, including technical checks of the aircraft and an examination of flight data and weather conditions. Further details are awaited as the investigation progresses.