Veteran Indian politician Ajit Pawar, the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra state, has died in a tragic plane crash, officials and multiple news outlets have reported. The accident killed Pawar and four others on board the chartered aircraft near Baramati in Pune district on the morning of January 28, 2026.
The Learjet 45 business jet — operated by VSR Ventures / VSR Aviation — was flying from Mumbai to Baramati, where Pawar was scheduled to attend public meetings as part of campaign activities ahead of upcoming local elections. As the aircraft attempted to land at Baramati Airport, it crash-landed just short of the runway and burst into flames, leaving no survivors among the five people on board, according to early investigations and eyewitness accounts.
Ajit Anantrao Pawar, aged 66, was a towering figure in Maharashtra politics and a senior leader of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). Over a political career spanning more than four decades, he served multiple terms as Deputy Chief Minister under various state administrations and was widely respected for his administrative experience and role in shaping state policy.
Leaders across the political spectrum expressed shock and grief at his sudden death. Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde described the incident as “very sad and unfortunate” and announced that a thorough investigation into the crash would be conducted by aviation authorities. Shinde also paid tribute to Pawar’s decades of public service and called him a “straightforward and fearless leader.”
Prominent figures, including Indian cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar, also shared condolences on social media, remembering Pawar as a committed leader who worked for the welfare of people across Maharashtra.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) have dispatched teams to examine the wreckage and determine the cause of the crash. Early indications point to difficulties during the landing phase, but investigators have cautioned that a full technical analysis will take time.
Pawar was part of the ruling coalition in Maharashtra, aligned with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Shiv Sena faction in recent years following a split within the NCP. His death leaves a significant void in the state’s political landscape and marks a moment of deep mourning for supporters and colleagues alike.
Public grief and tributes have poured in across Maharashtra, with many remembering Pawar’s long service and influential role in state politics.
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