In a stunning blow to Maharashtra’s political landscape, Deputy Chief Minister and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) President Ajit Pawar has died following a plane crash near Baramati in the Indian State of Maharashtra on early Wednesday morning.
Four others were also killed in the incident, including two pilots, one attendant, and Pawar's personal security officer, NDTV reported.
The crash occurred around 9 am during an emergency landing attempt, approximately an hour after the Learjet 45 took off from Mumbai, Indian authorities said.
NCP leader and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar. (Photo: Twitter)
Witnesses at the scene described a harrowing sight as the aircraft burst into flames upon impact. Emergency responders and local law enforcement reached the wreckage shortly after, though no survivors were recovered.
Ajit Pawar was traveling to his stronghold of Baramati to lead a public gathering for the upcoming Zilla Parishad and Panchayat Samiti elections. His death marks the end of an era for a leader known as the state’s longest-serving Deputy Chief Minister.
This is not the first aviation incident in the region. In October 2024, a helicopter meant to pick up Pawar's party colleague Sunil Tatkare crashed in Pune, and there have been previous emergency landings due to adverse weather conditions.
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