Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar Killed in Plane Crash
A tragic air accident in India’s western state of Maharashtra has claimed the life of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar along with four others, officials confirmed on Wednesday. The chartered aircraft carrying Pawar crashed during an attempted landing at Baramati Airport in Pune district while he was en route from Mumbai to attend local election campaign events.
The Bombardier Learjet 45 went down and burst into flames near the runway, with emergency responders and eyewitnesses reporting thick smoke and scattered wreckage across an open field. No one aboard survived the crash, according to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
Pawar, 66, was a senior leader of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and had played a central role in Maharashtra politics for decades, including serving multiple terms as deputy chief minister. He was part of a faction that aligned with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the state government after splitting from the original NCP in 2023.
Also killed were two of Pawar’s staff members and two crew members of the aircraft. Video footage from the site showed billows of smoke rising from the burning wreckage as local residents and first responders gathered.
News of the crash sent shockwaves across India, prompting national leaders to express grief. Prime Minister Narendra Modi described Pawar as a “grassroots leader dedicated to the people of Maharashtra,” underscoring the significant political loss.
Leaders from across the political spectrum and citizens in Maharashtra expressed deep sorrow over the incident. Uddhav Sena’s Priyanka Chaturvedi called Pawar’s death an “extremely painful” loss for the state.
Investigations are underway to determine the cause of the crash, with aviation authorities and local police reviewing conditions and aircraft data. The DGCA and emergency services have cordoned off the impact area as preliminary assessments continue.
Pawar was flying to Baramati, his political stronghold, to attend a series of campaign events tied to ongoing local body elections. The loss has left a significant void in Maharashtra’s political leadership and triggered widespread mourning across the state.
About the Author
