Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, 4 others Die in Baramati Plane Crash; DGCA Confirms No Survivors

Maharashtra/New Delhi: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar died on Wednesday early morning after the chartered aircraft carrying him crashed while attempting to land at Baramati airport.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said the small aircraft, which had departed from Mumbai and crashed at around 8.45 am during an emergency landing. All five people on board, including Pawar, lost their lives, and there were no survivors.

According to the DGCA, the chartered aircraft was carrying Ajit Pawar, one personal security officer, one attendant and two crew members- the pilot-in-command and first officer. “As per initial information, no person on board has survived the crash,” DGCA said in a statement.

Rescue teams reached the site shortly after the crash and recovered charred remains from the wreckage, which was found on a hillside near the airstrip. Visuals from the area showed the aircraft severely damaged, with debris scattered across the crash site.

En route to election rally

Pawar was travelling to Baramati to attend a public rally for the upcoming Zilla Parishad elections. A day earlier, he was in Mumbai, where he attended a meeting of the Maharashtra Cabinet Committee on Infrastructure, chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis with senior ministers and officials present.

Pawar was serving his six-term as deputy chief minister of Maharashtra and He was also the MLA from the Baramati for seven consecutive terms. He played a crucial role in state politics for over three decades. In 2023, he joined the BJP-led ruling coalition, triggering a split in the Nationalist Congress Party.

Leaders across parties express grief

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy, he wrote in a post on X. “Saddened by the tragic air crash in Baramati, Maharashtra. My thoughts are with all those who lost their loved ones in the crash. Praying for strength and courage for the bereaved families in this moment of profound grief.” 

Describing Pawar as a grassroots leader, Modi said he was widely respected for his hard work and commitment to public service. “His understanding of administrative matters and passion for empowering the poor and downtrodden were noteworthy. His untimely demise is shocking and saddening,” he added.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge termed Pawar’s death “deeply shocking and profoundly distressing, it is an untimely loss of a leader with a long political career. He extended condolences to the Pawar family, supporters and well-wishers, and said Pawar would be remembered as a seasoned politician who served the people with sincerity.May his soul rest in peace.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also expressed grief, saying he was “deeply shocked and pained” by the Deputy Chief Minister’s untimely demise. Singh said Pawar remained committed to Maharashtra’s development throughout his public life and was known for his compassion and dedication to public service.

Probe ordered

The DGCA said a detailed technical probe has been initiated into the crash, and further details will be shared after preliminary findings are available.

Ajit Pawar’s sudden death has sent shockwaves across Maharashtra’s political landscape, with condolences pouring in from leaders across party lines, underscoring the scale of the loss to state politics.

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Shoaibur Rahman

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