In a shocking incident that has sent ripples across India’s political landscape, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Ajit Pawar tragically lost his life in a plane crash near Baramati, his hometown in Pune district, on January 28, 2026. The aircraft, a chartered Learjet 45 (registration VT-SSK), crashed during an attempted landing at Baramati airport, resulting in the deaths of all five people on board.
PM Narendra Modi’s Condolences
Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to X (formerly Twitter) to express his deep sorrow over the demise of Ajit Pawar. In his heartfelt message, he wrote:
“Shri Ajit Pawar Ji was a leader of the people, having a strong grassroots level connect. He was widely respected as a hardworking personality at the forefront of serving the people of Maharashtra. His understanding of administrative matters and passion for empowering the poor and downtrodden were also noteworthy. His untimely demise is very shocking and saddening. Condolences to his family and countless admirers. Om Shanti.”
Shri Ajit Pawar Ji was a leader of the people, having a strong grassroots level connect. He was widely respected as a hardworking personality at the forefront of serving the people of Maharashtra. His understanding of administrative matters and passion for empowering the poor and… pic.twitter.com/mdgwwGzw4R
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 28, 2026
The post, accompanied by photos of PM Modi with Ajit Pawar from past events, highlighted the cross-party respect Pawar commanded despite political differences.
Details of the Baramati Plane Crash
The small private plane took off from Mumbai early in the morning, around 8:00–8:10 AM, carrying Ajit Pawar, his personal security officer, an attendant, and two crew members (pilot and first officer). Ajit Pawar was traveling to Baramati to address multiple public meetings ahead of the upcoming Zilla Parishad elections.
According to reports from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and eyewitness accounts:
- The aircraft veered off the runway during landing around 8:45–9:00 AM.
- It split on impact, caught fire, and exploded, with massive flames and wreckage visible at the site.
- No survivors were reported, and rescue teams recovered multiple bodies from the charred remains.
The crash site near Baramati airport showed the plane drifting right during its final approach, leading to a catastrophic failure. Investigations are underway to determine the exact cause, including possible technical issues or adverse conditions.
