Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar Dies in Plane Crash Near Baramati

DAINIK NATION BUREAU/DEHRADUN

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and five others were killed on Wednesday when a chartered Learjet 45 aircraft crashed near Baramati in Pune district. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep grief over the tragedy, describing Pawar as “a leader of the people” and extending condolences to the bereaved families. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has expressed condolence on it.

The aircraft had taken off from Mumbai early in the morning and was heading to Baramati, where Pawar was scheduled to address several public rallies ahead of the Zilla Parishad elections. Officials said the plane crashed while attempting to land at the Baramati airfield around 8:45 a.m., bursting into flames upon impact.

All six people on board — including Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, two crew members, his personal security officer, an attendant, and another staff member — were declared dead at the spot, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) confirmed.

Emergency services, including fire tenders and local rescue teams, rushed to the site after thick smoke and flames were seen rising from the area. Initial visuals showed severely charred wreckage scattered across an open field.

Ajit Pawar, 66, was a senior political leader and president of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) in Maharashtra. A multiple-term Deputy Chief Minister, his sudden death has sent shockwaves through political circles and sparked widespread mourning across the state.