The plane carrying the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra crashed in his constituency, Baramati.
Published January 28, 2026
Ajit Pawar, deputy chief minister of the Indian state of Maharashtra, has died in a plane crash, the country’s aviation regulator announced.
The plane took off from the state capital Mumbai on Wednesday and crash-landed at the airport in Baramati, Pawar’s constituency, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said.
Two staff members of prominent politicians and two crew members were also reported to have been killed.
The cause of the crash has not yet been officially confirmed.
According to online aviation tracking service Flightradar 24, the plane was attempting a second approach to Baramati Airport when it crashed.
The plane, a Learjet 45 operated by a company called VSR, crashed at around 8:45 a.m. local time (3:15 p.m. Japan time), The Times of India reported, citing DGCA officials.
The newspaper said Pawar, who is the nephew of veteran politician Sharad Pawar, who founded the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), was on his way to attend a rally in the run-up to the district assembly elections.
Witnesses cited by the newspaper said the plane exploded shortly after hitting the ground.
“When we rushed to the scene, the plane was on fire. There were four or five more explosions. People tried to pull the passengers out, but the fire was too strong,” the witness said.
Pawar, 66, built his political base through the grassroots cooperative movement. He was a key figure in state politics, serving as the second-highest elected official in Maharashtra as part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s larger federal governing coalition.
He wielded great influence in the state’s vibrant Sugar Belt and was known for his ability to mobilize rural voters.
The news of Pawar’s death triggered an outpouring of emotions.
A crowd gathered outside Baramati Hospital where the body was taken. The state has declared a three-day mourning period, during which flags will be flown at half-staff, government offices and schools will be closed and public events canceled.
The state announced that the period of mourning reflects recognition of Pawar’s long service and influence in Maharashtra politics.
“There are no words to express my emotions,” said Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
“I have lost a strong and generous friend,” Fadnavis posted on social media.
A similar atmosphere was expressed at the national level. Prime Minister Modi wrote on X that Pawar’s “untimely death” was “very shocking and sad.”
The Prime Minister said he was “widely respected as a hard-working man”, adding that “his passion for the empowerment of the poor and disadvantaged was particularly noteworthy”.
