BARAMATI — In a devastating turn of events that has left Maharashtra in shock, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar lost his life Wednesday morning when his private plane crashed while trying to land at Baramati Airport.
The chartered aircraft, carrying Pawar from Mumbai to his political stronghold of Baramati, went down around 8:45 AM. Eyewitnesses reported seeing the business jet veer dangerously off the runway during what appeared to be a second landing attempt before it crashed and burst into flames.
None of the six people on board survived. Along with the 66-year-old leader, security personnel, flight attendants, and the crew were all killed in the fiery crash that has shocked the nation.
Pawar was heading home to attend a political gathering when tragedy struck. The plane broke apart upon impact, with thick plumes of smoke rising from the wreckage as emergency teams rushed to the scene. Despite their swift response, there was nothing that could be done.
The news spread quickly through political circles. Prime Minister Narendra Modi immediately called Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to get updates on the situation. Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy was among the first to express grief, calling the news “very shocking and sad.”
Family members, including his sister-in-law Supriya Sule and other relatives, dropped everything and rushed to Baramati from Delhi as soon as they heard.
Pawar wasn’t just any politician—he was a towering figure in Maharashtra politics. The nephew of political stalwart Sharad Pawar, Ajit had carved out his own formidable legacy. He holds the distinction of being Maharashtra’s longest-serving Deputy Chief Minister, having held the post six times under different governments. He had been serving in his latest term since December 2024 under Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
A senior leader of the Nationalist Congress Party representing Baramati—his family’s traditional seat—Pawar was known for his political acumen and deep connections across the state.
Aviation authorities have launched a full investigation into what went wrong. The DGCA will be examining everything from the plane’s maintenance records to weather conditions, flight data, and communications between the pilots and air traffic control.
As Maharashtra mourns, condolences continue to pour in from leaders across the political spectrum. The loss of such a significant political figure has left a void that will be difficult to fill.
