LIVE: Ajit Pawar Dies in Plane Crash in Maharashtra’s Baramati
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
Baramati (Maharashtra): Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Nationalist Congress Party chief Ajit Pawar died in a plane crash on Wednesday morning.
According to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (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. The crash landing of the Mumbai–Baramati chartered aircraft occurred at the runway threshold in Baramati.
Pawar was onboard the aircraft along with two personnel — one Personal Security Officer (PSO) and one attendant — and two crew members. Further details regarding the crash are awaited.
Ajit Pawar was travelling to Baramati to attend a public rally for the Zilla Parishad elections. He was in Mumbai on Tuesday, where he attended a meeting of the Maharashtra Cabinet Committee on Infrastructure chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. Maharashtra Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule and other officials were also present at the meeting.
Ajit Pawar was the longest-serving Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra non-consecutively, having served six terms under various governments. He held the position during the tenures of Chief Ministers Prithviraj Chavan, Devendra Fadnavis, Uddhav Thackeray and Eknath Shinde.
He is survived by his wife Sunetra Pawar and their two sons, Jay Pawar and Parth Pawar.
Ajit Pawar began his political career in 1982 after being elected to the board of a cooperative sugar factory. In 1991, he was elected chairman of the Pune District Central Cooperative Bank.
He was elected to the Lok Sabha for the first time in 1991 from the Baramati Parliamentary constituency and later vacated the seat for his uncle Sharad Pawar. He was elected to the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly seven times from the Baramati Assembly constituency, first winning a by-election in 1991 and subsequently securing victories in 1995, 1999, 2004, 2009 and 2014.
In November 2019, he engineered a split in the Nationalist Congress Party and joined a Bharatiya Janata Party-led government, becoming Deputy Chief Minister. In February 2024, the Election Commission awarded the party name and symbol to the faction headed by Ajit Pawar.
Live Updates
- 28 Jan 2026 11:29 AM IST
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari condoled the death of Maharashtra Deputy CM and NCP Chief Ajit Pawar in a plane crash in Baramati.Speaking to the media, Gadkari, while paying tribute, termed Pawar's passing as "unfortunate"."Ajit Pawar's death is unfortunate. He was my close friend in politics, and we also had familial relations. His passing away is a huge loss. On behalf of the party, I pay my tributes to him," he said.
- 28 Jan 2026 11:27 AM IST
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma condoled the death of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in a plane crash, and said his contribution to the western state's development left a lasting imprint. "Deeply pained by the passing away of Ajit Pawar ji, the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra in an unfortunate plane crash this morning.
"A seasoned leader who devoted his life to public service and towards the welfare of people, his contributions to state's development and governance have left a lasting imprint," Sarma said in a post on X. - 28 Jan 2026 11:14 AM IST
Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy has expressed deep shock and profound grief over the tragic demise of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in a plane crash. The Chief Minister said Ajit Pawar’s sudden passing is an irreparable loss to public life and extended heartfelt condolences to his family, the Government of Maharashtra, and the people of the state. He prayed for strength to the bereaved family in this moment of immense sorrow.
- 28 Jan 2026 11:01 AM IST
Shocked and deeply saddened by the untimely passing of Maharashtra Deputy CM Shri Ajit Pawar in a tragic plane crash. His sudden demise is a great loss to public life and to Maharashtra politics, where he served with experience and resolve. My heartfelt condolences to his family and supporters, and prayers for strength in this hour of grief. Om Shanti.: Karnataka deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar
