Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Ajit Pawar died in a tragic plane crash on Wednesday morning near Baramati. The veteran leader was travelling from Mumbai to his home turf of Baramati when the small aircraft went down during a landing attempt. Along with the 66-year-old leader, four others, comprising two pilots and two members of his security detail, lost their lives in the accident. The incident has sent shockwaves through the political landscape of the state, occurring at a time when Pawar was actively campaigning for upcoming local body elections.

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and NCP leader Ajit Pawar has died after his aircraft crashed while attempting to land near Baramati on Wednesday morning, officials said. 

The crash occurred during an emergency landing attempt; multiple fatalities have been reported.… pic.twitter.com/PaPG8mggXs

— The CSR Journal (@thecsrjournal) January 28, 2026

The aircraft, a Learjet 45 operated by VSR Ventures, took off from Mumbai at approximately 8:00 am. Flight data suggests the journey was routine until the aircraft approached Baramati airport roughly 45 minutes later.

 

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Eyewitness accounts and initial visuals from the site depict a grim scene of mangled debris engulfed in fire and thick plumes of smoke. Emergency services and ambulances from nearby medical facilities reached the spot shortly after the impact, but the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) later confirmed that there were no survivors among the five people on board.

Technical Failure Suspected During Landing

Initial reports from the crash site indicate that the aircraft encountered difficulties while attempting to land. The Learjet 45 is a common mid-size business jet, but this specific model has faced scrutiny in the past. Notably, an aircraft of the same make operated by the same company was involved in a crash in Mumbai in September 2023.

While the DGCA has ordered a high-level probe into the technical cause of today’s disaster, investigators are currently looking into weather conditions and potential mechanical failure as primary factors. The flight recorders are expected to be recovered soon to provide a clearer picture of the final moments before the descent turned fatal.

A Political Legacy Cut Short

Ajit Pawar’s death marks the end of a tumultuous and influential chapter in Maharashtra’s political history. As the nephew of veteran politician Sharad Pawar, Ajit was long considered the “Dada” (elder brother) of state politics, known for his administrative grit and blunt communication style. His political journey saw a significant shift in 2023 when he led a major mutiny within the NCP, splitting the party to join the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government as Deputy Chief Minister. Despite the bitter political rivalry that followed, recent months had seen a softening of stances, with murmurs of an NCP reunion growing louder after the two factions collaborated for the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation polls.

State in Mourning

The news has prompted an immediate halt to political activities across the state. Sharad Pawar and Lok Sabha MP Supriya Sule, who were in New Delhi for the Parliament’s budget session, have reportedly made arrangements to fly to Pune immediately. While the Maharashtra government and the Pawar family are yet to release an official statement, a heavy police presence has been deployed in Baramati and Mumbai to manage the crowds of grieving supporters. As the state prepares for a period of official mourning, the focus remains on the recovery operation and the subsequent inquiry into the safety protocols of private charters operating in the region.

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