Ajit Pawar, Five Others Killed in Plane Crash During Emergency Landing in Maharashtra’s Baramati
Pune | January 28, 2026
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Ajit Pawar died on Wednesday morning after a private aircraft carrying him crashed while attempting an emergency landing in Baramati town of Pune district. Five others on board also lost their lives, officials confirmed.
The aircraft, a Learjet 45 (registration VT-SSK) operated by VSR, went down around 8:45 am, according to preliminary information shared by officials and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). The jet was attempting an emergency landing when it crashed, resulting in a fire that completely engulfed the wreckage.
Ajit Pawar was travelling with two security personnel and two crew members, including the pilot-in-command and first officer. Authorities said no one on board survived the crash.
Visuals from the crash site showed debris scattered across the area, with flames and smoke rising as local residents and emergency responders rushed to the spot. Fire and rescue teams worked to control the blaze and secure the area.
Following the incident, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah contacted Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to receive updates on the situation, the state government said.
Ajit Pawar was in Mumbai on Tuesday, where he attended a meeting of the Maharashtra Cabinet Committee on Infrastructure, chaired by Chief Minister Fadnavis. Several senior ministers, including Chandrashekhar Bawankule, were also present at the meeting.
Leaders across party lines expressed shock and grief over the sudden demise of the veteran leader.
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi described the incident as “very shocking, painful and heart-rending,” adding that despite political differences, Pawar was a committed leader who remained focused on his work. She extended condolences to the Pawar family and the people of Baramati.
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Arvind Sawant said Ajit Pawar played a significant role in the development of the Baramati region and expressed his condolences to the family.
Union Minister Giriraj Singh termed the incident an “irreparable loss,” saying Pawar was not only Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister but also a prominent national political figure.
Born into a prominent political family, Ajit Pawar is survived by his wife Sunetra Pawar and two sons, Jay and Parth Pawar. After news of his death, his cousin and MP Supriya Sule left for Maharashtra, while several senior leaders gathered at the Pawar residence to pay their respects.
Ajit Pawar began his political journey in 1982 and rose steadily through the ranks. He was first elected to the Lok Sabha in 1991 from Baramati before focusing on state politics. He went on to serve seven terms as an MLA from the Baramati constituency and held key positions in Maharashtra’s government over a political career spanning more than four decades.
In 2019, he played a pivotal role in a split within the NCP and later joined the BJP-led government, assuming the post of Deputy Chief Minister. In February 2024, the Election Commission recognized his faction as the official NCP, awarding it the party name and symbol.
Authorities have ordered a detailed investigation into the crash, with the DGCA expected to examine technical, operational, and weather-related factors to determine the cause of the accident.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Bharatiya News staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)