Ajit Pawar, Maharashtra Deputy CM, Passes Away in Tragic Plane Crash

The nation was plunged into deep shock on Wednesday after Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar died in a tragic plane crash near Baramati airport in Pune district. The accident claimed the lives of five people , including the senior NCP leader, sending waves of grief across the country.

The crash occurred when a Learjet aircraft , flying from Mumbai to Baramati, went down while attempting to land. The aircraft reportedly caught fire moments after hitting the ground near the runway. Ajit Pawar, 66, was among those killed, along with Captain Sumit Kapoor, Co-pilot Captain Shambhavi Pathak, Personal Security Officer Videep Jadhav, and Flight Attendant Pinky Mali .

Ajit Pawar was on his way to Pune district to address four public meetings as part of the campaign for the Zilla Parishad elections scheduled for February 5 . The sudden tragedy has not only destabilised the BJP-led ruling coalition in Maharashtra but has also cast uncertainty over the future of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) , which he headed.

According to the Ministry of Civil Aviation , the aircraft faced poor visibility conditions while approaching Baramati airport. The pilot initially aborted the landing and executed a go-around , a standard aviation safety manoeuvre. During the second approach, Air Traffic Control granted landing clearance, but officials said the mandatory readback confirmation from the cockpit was not received. Within moments, the aircraft veered off near the runway edge and burst into flames.

Flight radar data indicated that the jet departed Mumbai at 8.10 am and disappeared from radar around 8.45 am , shortly before the crash. Eyewitnesses said the aircraft appeared unstable during descent and exploded immediately after touching the ground.

The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has launched a detailed probe into the incident. The Learjet belonged to VSR Ventures Private Limited and was operated under the non-scheduled operator category. Officials said the aircraft, manufactured in 2010, held valid airworthiness certification, and no major deficiencies were flagged during the DGCA audit conducted in February 2025 .

Baramati airport is classified as an uncontrolled airfield , lacking an Instrument Landing System (ILS) required for low-visibility operations. Aviation experts noted that landings under such conditions depend largely on pilot judgement and visual clearance.

Condolences poured in from across the political spectrum. President Droupadi Murmu , Prime Minister Narendra Modi , Union Home Minister Amit Shah , and leaders including Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, Akhilesh Yadav and M.K. Stalin expressed profound grief. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis , who rushed to Baramati, described the incident as “unbelievable” and said he had lost a close friend.

The Maharashtra government announced three days of state mourning until January 30, during which the national flag will be flown at half-mast on government buildings. Ajit Pawar’s last rites will be held today in Baramati with full state honours . Prime Minister Modi and Amit Shah are expected to attend the funeral.

NCP founder Sharad Pawar visited the crash site and the hospital where the bodies were kept, while Baramati MP Supriya Sule , his niece, expressed deep grief over the loss.