LIVE: Ajit Pawar's Death: 3-Day Mourning in Maha, BMC Offices Closed Today
According to the DGCA, five people, including the crew, on board the chartered plane flying from Mumbai to Baramati died after a crash-landing at 8.45 am
Pune: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and four other persons were killed after an aircraft carrying them crashed in Pune district on Wednesday morning, officials said. The incident occurred when the plane carrying Pawar (66) and others landed near Baramati, they said.
According to Flight Radar, the flight took off from Mumbai at 8.10 am and it disappeared from radar around 8.45 am.
The government on Wednesday declared three days of state mourning across Maharashtra as a mark of respect to Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who died in a plane crash, officials said.
State mourning will be observed from January 28 to January 30, during which the national flag will be flown at half-mast on all buildings. There will be no official entertainment during the mourning period, it said.
The department further declared that all state government offices across Maharashtra will remain closed on Wednesday on account of the demise of the deputy chief minister.
A source told PTI that the aircraft pilot had mentioned about poor visibility near the runway, before the aircraft attempted the landing.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to NCP-SP chief Sharad Pawar on Wednesday and expressed condolences at the death of his nephew, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, in an air crash in Baramati. "The prime minister spoke to Sharad Pawar on the sad demise of Ajit Pawar and expressed his condolences," officials said.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday said there should be a probe into the air crash in which Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and four others were killed.
Kharge said Pawar's death was untimely and he was someone who worked for the people.
"This has hurt everyone, including his family members, and we share their grief and pray that they can bear this loss," the Congress chief told reporters in the Parliament House complex.
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Wednesday afternoon declared one-day holiday for its offices following Maharashtra deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar's death in a plane crash at Baramati.
Only the employees involved in emergency services will be on duty during the day, it said.
Preliminary investigation reveals the accident happened due to poor visibility during landing, thorough investigation will be conduction: Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu
Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Wednesday condoled Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar's death in a plane crash, and said even though the NCP chief chose a different path in politics, he did not let their relationship suffer.
Lok Sabha on Wednesday paid respect to Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, former Bangladesh prime minister Khaleda Zia and five of its former members who passed away recently.
Speaker Om Birla read out obituary references on Pawar, Zia, Shalini Patil, Bhanu Prakash Mirdha, Satyendra Nath Brohmo Chaudhury, Suresh Kalmadi and Kabindra Purkayastha.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday demanded a Supreme Court-monitored probe into the death of Ajit Pawar in a place crash, alleging that "all other agencies" have been "completely compromised."