In a devastating tragedy, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and four others were killed this morning when the private aircraft they were traveling in crashed during landing at Baramati airport in Pune district.
The incident, confirmed by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), has sent shockwaves across India’s political landscape, cutting short the life of one of the state’s most prominent leaders.
The Learjet 45 (registration VT-SSK), chartered from Mumbai, was carrying Ajit Pawar, his personal security officer, an attendant, and two crew members (pilot and first officer) when it attempted to land around 8:45-8:48 AM IST.
According to Baramati airport manager Shivaji Taware, the aircraft veered off the side of the runway, crashed, and burst into flames.
Eyewitness accounts and videos from the site showed the plane splitting apart on impact, with thick smoke and fire engulfing the wreckage.
Rescue teams, including local police, fire services, and medical personnel, rushed to the scene, but all five individuals on board were declared dead on arrival at nearby hospitals.
A senior DGCA official stated: “An aircraft carrying Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and four others, including two crew members, crash-landed at Baramati airport, killing all five persons on board.”
Close aide Kiran Gujar, speaking from the hospital, confirmed: “All six people including Ajit Pawar brought dead.” (Some initial reports varied on the exact count, but DGCA and multiple sources converged on five fatalities.)
Ajit Pawar, 66, was en route to his hometown Baramati to address four public meetings ahead of upcoming Zilla Parishad elections.
A veteran politician and nephew of NCP founder Sharad Pawar, he had served as Deputy Chief Minister multiple times under various governments, including the current NDA alliance led by CM Devendra Fadnavis.
Known for his grassroots connect and administrative acumen, Pawar entered politics in the 1980s, winning his first Lok Sabha seat from Baramati in 1991 before shifting to state assembly roles.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed profound grief on X: “Saddened by the tragic air crash in Baramati, Maharashtra. My thoughts are with all those who lost their loved ones in the crash.
Praying for strength and courage for the bereaved families in this moment of profound grief.” He later added that Pawar “shall be remembered as a seasoned politician who discharged his responsibilities towards his people with sincerity and astuteness.”
Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Maharashtra CM Fadnavis coordinated immediate response efforts. Pawar’s wife Sunetra Pawar, sister Supriya Sule, and family members, who were in Delhi for Parliament’s Budget Session, rushed to Baramati. Last rites are expected in Baramati.
The DGCA has launched a formal investigation into the cause, with early indications pointing to possible loss of control during descent. Aviation experts noted this as a rare but catastrophic private jet incident in India.
The nation mourns the loss of a key political figure whose sudden death leaves a void in Maharashtra’s governance and the NCP landscape.
