Maha deputy CM Ajit Pawar dies in plane crash, 4 others also killed

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and NCP leader Ajit Pawar died on Wednesday morning after his private chartered aircraft crashed in Baramati. The incident occurred around 8:45 AM as the Learjet 45 was attempting to land at the Baramati airport during a flight from Mumbai. Preliminary reports from the site indicate that the aircraft veered off the runway, lost stability, and exploded on impact, leaving the wreckage completely engulfed in flames.

The crash resulted in the tragic death of five individuals, including the 66-year-old Deputy CM, his security personnel, and the pilots. Pawar was traveling to his hometown to campaign for the upcoming Zilla Parishad elections, with several public meetings scheduled throughout the day. Eyewitnesses described a massive plume of smoke rising from the open agricultural field where the debris was scattered. While local residents rushed to the spot to assist, the severity of the explosion left no room for a successful rescue of those on board.

The sudden demise of Ajit Pawar, the longest-serving Deputy CM in Maharashtra's history, has left the state in a state of deep shock. Political leaders across the spectrum, including family members Supriya Sule and Parth Pawar, have rushed to Baramati as news of the tragedy broke. Aviation authorities and the DGCA have initiated a high-level probe to determine whether the accident was caused by a technical malfunction or a pilot error during the critical landing phase.

Just minutes before the fatal flight, Pawar had posted a tribute to Lala Lajpat Rai on social media, marking what would unknowingly be his final public interaction. As the state government prepares for official mourning, tributes are pouring in for the seasoned leader who remained a dominant figure in Maharashtra's cooperative and political landscape for decades. The loss is particularly significant as it comes just days after India celebrated its 77th Republic Day.