In a tragic aviation accident, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar was killed along with four others when their chartered aircraft crashed during an attempted landing at Baramati Airport this morning.
The Learjet 45, operated by a private charter company, departed from Mumbai around 8:00 AM local time. The plane was en route to Baramati, Pawar’s political stronghold, where he was scheduled to address multiple election rallies ahead of upcoming local body polls.
According to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the aircraft attempted a second landing approach before crashing off the runway, bursting into flames upon impact. All five people on board – including Pawar (66), his personal security officer, an attendant, and the two crew members (pilot and co-pilot) – perished in the incident. No survivors were reported.
Eyewitnesses described the plane making unusual noise during approach, sliding off the runway, and exploding in a massive fireball, with thick smoke rising from the scattered wreckage in an open field near the airport.
Pawar, a prominent Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader and nephew of veteran politician Sharad Pawar, had served as Deputy Chief Minister multiple times across different administrations. He was a key figure in Maharashtra politics, known for his grassroots connect, work in the cooperative sector, and long tenure representing Baramati.
The crash has sent shockwaves across India’s political landscape.
This tragedy marks a major blow to Maharashtra’s ruling coalition and leaves a void in the state’s political leadership.
