Senior NCP leader and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar died in a plane crash near Baramati on Wednesday morning, killing five people, including two pilots and his security personnel.

The accident occurred when a small private aircraft flying from Mumbai attempted to land near Baramati airport. The plane, which took off around 8 am, crashed about 45 minutes later under unclear circumstances. Officials said all passengers on board were declared dead at the site.

Visuals from the crash area showed thick smoke, fire, and debris scattered around the wreckage. Emergency teams and ambulances rushed to the location soon after the incident. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) confirmed that there were no survivors.

Pawar, 66, was travelling to attend a series of public meetings ahead of upcoming local body elections. The aircraft was reportedly a Learjet 45 operated by a private company, VSR. Authorities have begun an investigation to determine the cause of the crash.

Ajit Pawar was a prominent figure in Maharashtra politics and served multiple terms as Deputy Chief Minister under different governments, including those led by Prithviraj Chavan, Uddhav Thackeray, Eknath Shinde, and Devendra Fadnavis. He was the nephew of NCP founder Sharad Pawar and cousin of MP Supriya Sule.

In 2023, Pawar led a split within the Nationalist Congress Party, forming a separate faction and later joining the NDA government. In recent months, there had been signs of reconciliation within the party, with both factions contesting some local elections together.

Sharad Pawar and Supriya Sule, who were in Delhi for the Parliament’s budget session, are expected to travel to Pune following the tragedy.

Political leaders across party lines expressed shock and grief over Pawar’s death. Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the incident as “shocking and saddening,” calling Pawar a leader with strong grassroots connections. Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge also issued condolence messages, praising his public service and dedication.

The Maharashtra government and NCP leadership have not yet released an official statement on funeral arrangements. Further details are expected after the completion of the preliminary investigation into the crash.

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