Baramati, January 28, 2026 β In a shocking development that has sent waves of grief across the nation, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Ajit Pawar passed away today following a fatal plane crash. The incident occurred near Baramati airport in Pune district during the early hours of Wednesday morning.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and local authorities confirmed that the chartered aircraft, carrying the Deputy CM and several others, encountered technical difficulties shortly before its scheduled landing.
The aircraft, a Learjet 45 operated by a private charter firm, took off from Mumbai at approximately 8:10 AM. According to flight tracking data and eyewitness accounts, the plane appeared unstable during its final approach to the Baramati runway.
At around 8:45 AM, the aircraft reportedly lost altitude rapidly and crashed near the threshold of the runway. On impact, the plane erupted into flames, making rescue operations extremely difficult for the emergency teams that rushed to the site.
Official reports from the crash site confirm that there were no survivors. Along with Ajit Pawar, four others lost their lives in the tragedy, including, two crew members (the Pilot-in-Command and the First Officer), a Personal Security Officer (PSO), a personal attendant.
Emergency responders and fire brigades managed to douse the flames, but the wreckage was severely damaged. The bodies have been shifted to a local hospital for further procedures.
A Massive Loss for Maharashtra Politics as Ajit Pawar, a heavyweight in Maharashtra politics and the nephew of veteran leader Sharad Pawar, was en route to Baramati to attend a series of public rallies ahead of the Zilla Parishad elections. Known popularly as “Dada,” his political career spanned over four decades, during which he served as the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra for a record six terms.
His sudden demise has resulted in an outpouring of condolences from across the political spectrum. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his shock, describing Pawar as a hardworking leader with a deep connection to the grassroots. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and other state leaders are expected to reach Baramati later today.
Investigation Underway, The Ministry of Civil Aviation has ordered a high-level inquiry into the cause of the crash. A team from the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is scheduled to visit the site to recover the Black Box and analyze the technical failure that led to the emergency landing attempt.
While preliminary reports suggest a technical snag during the descent, officials have urged the public to avoid speculation until the formal investigation is complete.
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