A leading Indian politician, Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, has died in a tragic plane crash, along with four others, including two pilots and his security staff. The incident occurred Wednesday morning, Jan. 28, near Baramati, India.
The Learjet 45, operated by private firm VSR, took off from Mumbai at 8:10 a.m. but went off radar around 8:45 a.m. Officials said the aircraft crashed while attempting a second landing near Baramati airport, bursting into flames on impact. Witnesses reported the plane appeared to lose control seconds before touchdown, falling nearly 100 feet short of the runway.
Emergency crews rushed to the scene, but all five occupants were pronounced dead within minutes. Pawar, 66, had been traveling to attend a series of public meetings ahead of next month’s local body elections. Images from the crash site showed mangled wreckage, smoke, and ambulances transporting victims to nearby hospitals.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi described Pawar’s death as “shocking and saddening,” noting his strong grassroots connection and dedication to serving the people of Maharashtra.
“His understanding of administrative matters and passion for empowering the poor and downtrodden were noteworthy. Condolences to his family and countless admirers. Om Shanti,” Modi said in a tweet.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah called the loss a personal blow, praising Pawar’s decades-long commitment to the welfare of Maharashtra’s citizens. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge also expressed profound grief, remembering Pawar as a compassionate and dedicated leader.
Ajit Pawar had served multiple terms as Deputy Chief Minister under leaders including Prithviraj Chavan, Uddhav Thackeray, Eknath Shinde, and Devendra Fadnavis. In 2023, he led a rebellion that split the NCP and later joined the NDA government as Deputy CM. His passing marks a significant loss for Maharashtra’s political landscape.
