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
Mumbai: In a tragic incident, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Ajit Pawar, 66, died in a plane crash on Wednesday morning. The chartered Learjet 45 (VT-SSK) crashed while trying to land at Baramati Airport, killing all five people on board.
The crash occurred at around 8.44 am. Those killed included Pawar’s personal staff member Vidip Jadhav, aircraft attendant Pinky Mali, Pilot-in-Command Captain Sumit Kapur, and co-pilot Shambhavi Pathak.
The pilots had decided not to land in the first attempt and had performed a 'go around'. In the second they had confirmed they could see the runway. The aircraft crashed to the left of the runway at about 8.45 pm. Eyewitnesses said the aircraft struck the ground and burst into flames. Emergency services rushed to the spot, but the intensity of the fire prevented any rescue. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has launched a probe into the incident.
Ajit Pawar’s mortal remains were taken to Vidya Pratishthan ground in Baramati, where members of the public paid their respects. Senior members of the Pawar family, including NCP founder Sharad Pawar and MP Supriya Sule, arrived in Baramati. Pawar is survived by his wife, Sunetra Pawar, and sons Jay and Parth.
Sharad Pawar arrived at the venue along with NCP working president Praful Patel, state NCP president Sunil Tatkare, and state minister Hasan Mushrif. All had joined the Ajit Pawar faction following the 2023 split in the party.
The final rites will be held on Thursday at 11 am at the Vidya Pratishthan ground. Union home minister Amit Shah is scheduled to attend, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also likely to visit Baramati. Chief Ministers of several states are expected to be present.
Sharad Pawar dismissed speculation of any conspiracy behind the crash, saying, “There is no politics involved. It was a tragic accident. Please do not politicise this incident.”
Earlier, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee demanded a Supreme Court-monitored probe, alleging that investigative agencies had been compromised. Her demand was backed by several Opposition leaders including Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, SP leader Akhilesh Yadav backed the demand.
Leaders across political parties gathered at the Vidya Pratishthan grounds to offer condolences. Maharashtra Governor Acharya Devvrat, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde met Sunetra Pawar and expressed their sympathies.
The Maharashtra government has declared three days of state mourning across the state as a mark of respect to the deputy chief minister.
Meanwhile, the state mourning declared following the death of Ajit Pawar will not affect Zilla Parishad and Panchayat Samiti elections as they will held as per schedule on February 5, State Election Commission sources said on Wednesday.
Ajit Pawar’s death has created a significant political vacuum in the BJP-led coalition government in Maharashtra and cast a shadow on the future of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), which he headed.
His lasting contribution lies in the transformative development of Baramati. He was the chief architect behind turning Baramati into a model township with its sugar cooperatives, educational institutions like the Vidya Pratishthan, and the Baramati Knowledge Cluster focused on agro-technology. His deep connection with the cooperative sector made him a towering figure for farmers and rural communities.
Live Updates
- 28 Jan 2026 6:13 PM IST
Karnataka Assembly pays tributes to Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar
Karnataka Legislative Assembly Speaker U T Khader, informing about Pawar's death, paid tributes to the departed leader.
Recalling Pawar's long political journey and that he was a six time Deputy CM of Maharashtra, the Speaker said, "he was the voice of poor, downtrodden, farmers. He was a straightforward politician, a prominent personality from the cooperative field, and was known as Ajit Dada among his followers."
Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H K Patil remembering Pawar's leadership qualities said, he used to meet every person who had come to meet him every day.
Leader of Opposition R Ashoka, JD(S) floor leader Suresh Babu, Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar among others spoke remembering Pawar's leadership and work for Maharashtra state.
- 28 Jan 2026 5:18 PM IST
PM Narendra Modi expresses grief over demise of #AjitPawar, others in plane crash; says 'Ajit dada' made big contributions for the development of Maharashtra
- 28 Jan 2026 5:17 PM IST
Union Minister Ram Mohan Naidu , Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis, Dy CM Eknath Shinde arrive at Vidya Pratishthan to pay last respects to Maharashtra Deputy CM and NCP leader Ajit Pawar.
- 28 Jan 2026 5:14 PM IST
Maharashtra Governor Acharya Devvrat, state CM Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy CM Eknath Shinde, and NCP (SP) leader Supriya Sule arrive at Ajit Pawar’s residence in Baramati to console his wife and Rajya Sabha MP Sunetra Pawar.
- 28 Jan 2026 4:57 PM IST
Sharad Pawar, wife fly back to Baramati
How did it happen, a composed Sharad Pawar asked after landing in Baramati, hours after the tragic death of his nephew and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in an aircraft crash on Wednesday. The 85-year-old Pawar senior and his wife Pratibha Pawar flew to their hometown in a helicopter from Mumbai after hearing the news.
Later he left for the hospital where Ajit Pawar's body has been kept.
Ajit had broken away from his uncle to join hands with the BJP in 2023. It led to a split in the Nationalist Congress Party.
But the two NCP factions recently came together to contest the municipal corporation elections in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad.
- 28 Jan 2026 3:35 PM IST
PM condoles death of Ajit Pawar; speaks to Sharad Pawar
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.
- 28 Jan 2026 3:33 PM IST
Congress chief Kharge demands probe into Ajit Pawar plane crash
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.
- 28 Jan 2026 3:29 PM IST
BMC offices to remain closed
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.
