Plane Crashes in Maharashtra, India; Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar Among 5 Dead

NEW DELHI/BARAMATI, Jan 28: A plane carrying Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar crashed near Baramati on Wednesday morning, killing him and four others on board.

The Learjet 45, a mid-size business jet, had departed Mumbai at approximately 8:10 a.m. local time and was headed to Baramati, where Pawar was scheduled to address a Zilla Parishad election rally. The aircraft lost contact and disappeared from radar shortly before it crashed near the Baramati airport around 8:45–9:00 a.m.

Alongside Pawar, 66, the victims included two crew members and two staff members, among them a personal security officer and an attendant. Eyewitnesses and preliminary reports indicate that the jet attempted an emergency landing before the crash, but the reason for the accident is still under investigation.

Police and rescue teams quickly sealed off the crash site and initiated recovery operations. Local authorities are coordinating with aviation officials to determine the cause of the crash.

Ajit Pawar, a veteran politician born in Ahmednagar district in 1959, was one of Maharashtra’s most experienced leaders, having served multiple terms as deputy chief minister. He was widely recognized for his influence in state politics and his long-standing association with the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).

The tragic incident has sent shockwaves across Maharashtra and India’s political circles, with leaders and citizens expressing deep condolences over the sudden loss of the state leader.