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Ajit Pawar plane crash LIVE: Mortal remains taken for public homage, funeral to be held tomorrow
Summary
Ajit Pawar Plane Crash News LIVE: Lok Sabha on Wednesday paid tributes to Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and expressed condolences over his demise after the 66-year-old passed away in a plane crash this morning.
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and five other persons died after an aircraft carrying them crashed in Pune district on Wednesday morning, confirmed by DCGA.
Initial information suggested that the aircraft was being used by Ajit Pawar, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief and Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister.
According to Flight Radar, the flight took off from Mumbai at 8.10 am and it disappeared from radar around 8.45 am.
Official documents note that the Maharashtra Deputy CM was scheduled to travel to Baramati later in the day to attend a series of four public engagements.
Read | Caught on CCTV: Harrowing moments when Ajit Pawar's plane crashed and burst into flames; AAIB to probe accident
According to preliminary reports, the aircraft reportedly carrying Ajit Pawar encountered difficulties while attempting an emergency landing, resulting in a crash in Maharashtra's Baramati. Several occupants sustained injuries and were swiftly transported to nearby hospitals for treatment.
Baramati airport manager Shivaji Taware told Hindustan Times that the aircraft, VT SSK, was attempting to land and the aircraft went off the side of the runway and exploded on crashing.
The aircraft was a Learjet 45, chartered from Mumbai, officials told HT.
Baramati Airport, previously operated privately, was recently handed over to the Maharashtra Airport Development Company, HT reported.
Read | Supriya Sule, Sunetra Pawar break down as they meet family members after Ajit Pawar's death in plane crash — Video
Meanwhile, visuals from the scene showed the severely damaged wreckage of the aircraft, with emergency personnel and ambulances deployed at the site. Authorities have cordoned off the area as rescue and recovery efforts continue.
The cause of the emergency landing has not yet been established, and officials said further details would be released once technical assessments and eyewitness accounts are examined.
Get all the Ajit Pawar Death News LIVE on Mint.
Indian cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar expressed grief at the news of the tragic demise of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who was killed in a charter plane crash in Baramati on Wednesday morning.
In a post shared on X, Tendulkar wrote, "Very sad to learn about the untimely demise of Shri Ajit Pawar ji. Maharashtra has lost a dedicated leader who worked for the people, across the state. My heartfelt condolences to his family and friends. Om Shanti."
Maharashtra Minister and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Babasaheb Mohanrao Patil, along with NCP leader Vikram Vasantrao Kale, broke down while reacting to the death of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in Latur on Wednesday.
On Maharashtra Dy CM Ajit Pawar's demise in a plane crash, NCP leader Deepak Mankar said: "He has done great work for Maharashtra, and the world will always remember him. I want to say that our love for him will always remain... This accident is a huge tragedy for this country, and we will always remember the efforts of this great leader, whom young people admired so much, and his dedication to doing good work in Maharashtra.
We can never forget him. Because our relationship wasn't just that of a worker and a leader. There was a different kind of love between us, and I am deeply saddened. My party is also deeply saddened. All the party workers from Pune city are very sad, and may God guide his soul to a better place."
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Nationalist Congress Party chief Ajit Pawar died after his plane crashed on Wednesday while attempting to land in Baramati. The aircraft had four other personnel on board — a security officer, an attendant, and two crew members, including the pilot-in-command and the first officer. Check Ajit Pawar's last social media post here
The funeral of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who passed away earlier in the morning following a tragic plane crash, will be held tomorrow, Thursday, at 11 am. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah are likely to attend.
The mortal remains of Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar are being taken to the Vidya Pratishthan ground for the public to pay their last respects.
PM Modi spoke to Sharad Pawar, and conveyed condolences following Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar's death in air crash in Baramati.
Nationalist Congress Party (SP) chief Sharad Pawar and Ajit Pawar’s wife Sunetra Pawar arrived in Baramati on Wednesday, hours after the Maharashtra deputy chief minister was killed in a tragic plane crash. Sunetra Pawar and Ajit Pawar’s cousin Supriya Sule were seen breaking down in tears.
Visuals from outside the residence of Vidip Dilip Jadhav, the personal security officer (PSO) of Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, who was also onboard the ill-fated charter plane that crash landed in Baramati.
All five people onboard the aircraft died in the accident.
NCP supporters with a photo of their party chief & Deputy CM Ajit Pawar gather in large numbers outside Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Holkar Government Medical College in Baramati.
Bollywood actor and Member of Parliament Kangana Ranaut expressed deep shock over the sudden death of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, calling the news "horrible" and difficult to process.
While speaking to the media, Ranaut struggled to find the right words to describe the tragedy. Visibly shocked by the loss, she said, "Oh my God. That's horrible. This is such horrible news. There are not enough words to express. Apne emotions ko align karke, I will give a statement later."
The last rites of Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar will be performed with full state honours, news agency ANI reported, citing the Maharashtra General Administration Department (Protocol).
During the three-day mourning period, the national flag will be flown at half-mast on all buildings across Maharashtra where it is regularly hoisted. No government entertainment programmes will be organised during this period. All state government offices across Maharashtra will remain closed on Wednesday, January 28, 2026.
“This is very sad... This is a very painful hour for the Pawar family. At this time, I can only pray to the Lord that they be given the strength to bear this sorrow,” Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav told news agency ANI outside the Parliament.
"We are deeply saddened by his sudden demise. There was such a big victory in the recent civic elections. This is very painful. He had become a strong pillar of the NDA," BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad told news agency ANI.
BJP MP Kangana Ranaut on Wednesday criticized Mamata Banerjee for her suggestion that foul play could be involved in Ajit Pawar's death, describing the West Bengal Chief Minister's words as “neech baatein”.
“Very sad to learn about the untimely demise of Shri Ajit Pawar ji. Maharashtra has lost a dedicated leader who worked for the people, across the state. My heartfelt condolences to his family and friends. Om Shanti,” Tendulkar wrote on X.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday suggested that there could be foul play involved in the plane crash that led to the death of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and four others.
“Even political leaders are not safe in this country, let alone common people. Two days ago, I came to know that someone from another party had given a statement that Pawar was willing to leave the BJP, and now this has happened today,” Mamata said, hinting at potential foul play.
“I demand a proper investigation under the supervision of the Supreme Court. We have trust only in the Supreme Court and no other agency. All agencies have been completely compromised. It is truly a great loss. Today he is in the opposition, but tomorrow he was supposed to return to the original course of his party,” she said, as per news agency PTI.
Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau left for Baramati from Delhi to inspect and start investigating the crash landing, ANI reported citing MoCA (Ministry of Civil Aviation).
Five people, including Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, on board a Mumbai-Baramati charter plane died when it crash landed in Baramati.
As reported by ANI, Union MoS Bhagwat Karad says, "Ajit Dada was a tall leader of Maharashtra who was in politics for a long time. The whole of Maharashtra is saddened by his demise today. "
Lok Sabha pays obituary to Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, who was a former MP. He died in a crash landing in Baramati this morning.
On plane crash and demise of Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, Pune Rural SP Sandeep Singh says," The aircraft carrying 5 people crashed just before landing at around 8:40 am today. Five people have died in this incident, and their bodies have been brought to the hospital here. We will provide an update after the bodies are identified. An expert team is present at the crash site." (ANI)
A local resident says, "We live here and behind us there is an airstrip where we saw that a plane came and it did not land. It went further, but then it turned back in sometime and started landing. But then it crash landed just before the runway. As soon as we saw that, we informed the people we knew around the airstrip, so the police and others came immediately. They tried to extinguish the fire. After 15 minutes, they could douse the fire and when we went near, we saw a headless body lying there. It was completely burned and swollen. We could not identify it, but later, with the help of something in the hand, it was identified that it was the body of Dada (Ajit Pawar). Police team came to us and asked for water. We gave them, and they also asked for clothes to cover it, so we gave a new blanket from our house." (ANI)
In the wake of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar's demise in a plane crash on Wednesday, Shiv Sena leader Raju Waghmare has raised serious concerns on the manufacturer of the plane involved in the incident, recalling that the same company's plane was involved in crash at Mumbai Airport in 2023, ANI reported.
Waghmare said the incident warrants a comprehensive investigation into the company's operations and safety standards.
"The chartered plane belonged to the company called VSR, which is the same company whose plane had previously crashed on 14 October 2023 at Mumbai airport, where all the passengers had luckily survived. It was a technical snag that led to that incident, and a similar incident happened today with the same company's plane. This is a matter that needs thorough investigation. The owner of the company (VSR) is from Delhi...," he said. (ANI)
Huge crowd gathers outside Baramati hospital as mortal remains of Maharashtra Deputy CM and NCP leader, Ajit Pawar, have been brought here
He died in a charter plane crash while travelling from Mumbai to Bramati this morning.
As reported by ANI, Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis said," We have declared a three-day mourning in the state.
On the demise of Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, Karnataka DCM DK Shivakumar says, "Ajit Pawar's death is shocking. I was also shocked to hear the news of his death. We, as politicians, should be very careful. We should be careful while travelling abroad. We have lost many leaders like this. Ajit Pawar is a leader with very progressive ideas. The Maharashtra Chief Minister had said just the other day that he is cooperating in all works. May his soul rest in peace. May the Lord give his family and supporters the strength to bear the grief. His family has also established ties in Bengaluru. He met his relatives on Tuesday. Ajit Pawar is a senior leader. He left the party for a political future and came back. I will not talk about this. He was currently serving as the Maharashtra DCM."
On the increase in plane crashes and the claim that it was a technical fault, he says, "I will talk about this after a detailed report comes. What do I know about the technical fault? Many people, including friends from Mumbai, have informed me about it."
On Karnataka Minister Ramappa Timmapur, he says, "In my opinion, R B Timmapur has nothing to do with the controversy. The opposition is exaggerating as much as they want. I will discuss this in detail with the Chief Minister and then inform him. There is a political conspiracy going on.
Kangana Ranaut was shocked to hear about Ajit Pawar’s death. Upon reaching Parliament, she learned of the plane crash from journalists. Read here.
Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar's death: Plane crash will be probed, said Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, as reported by PTI.
Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis expresses grief over the demise of Deputy CM Ajit Pawar in an aircraft crash. He says, “This morning, a very tragic incident occurred. In extremely unforeseen circumstances, the news of the unfortunate demise of our state’s deputy chief minister, Ajit Pawar, in an aircraft accident reached everyone, spreading a wave of grief across Maharashtra. For Maharashtra, today is an extremely difficult day. Such leadership takes many years to develop, and at a time when he was making very significant contributions to the state’s development, his passing is both unbelievable and shocking. Personally, I have lost a strong and generous friend. This is also an enormous loss for his family.”
President Draupadi Murmu on Wednesday condoled the death of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar. Sharing an X post, Murmu said that the untimely demise of Ajit Pawar is an "irreparable loss" for the nation.
She wrote, "The news of the death of several people, including Maharashtra's Deputy Chief Minister Shri Ajit Pawar, in a plane crash in Baramati, Maharashtra, is extremely tragic. The untimely demise of Ajit Pawar ji is an irreparable loss. He will always be remembered for his special contribution to the development of Maharashtra, especially in the cooperative sector. I express my deep condolences to his family, supporters, and admirers. May God grant strength to the families of all others who lost their lives in this accident to bear this blow."
In a post on X, Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani wrote, “Deeply saddened by the passing of Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister, Ajit Pawar. Just a month ago, we stood together in Baramati for the inauguration of the Sharad Pawar Centre of Excellence in AI - a moment that reflected Ajit ji's vision, his belief in progress and his commitment to Bharat’s youth and her future. May we honour his legacy by continuing the work he championed to build a future-ready Maharashtra. May his soul rest in peace. 🙏”
Bollywood actor Ritesh Deshmukh on Wednesday condoled Ajit Pawar's death in plane crash. In a post on X, he wrote, “Deeply shocked and terribly heartbroken to learn that we have lost Ajit Dada in a tragic accident. One of Maharashtra’s most dynamic leaders, he had zero tolerance for non-performance and constantly pushed and inspired those around him to excel. He never minced his words, his wit was unmatched, and he was deeply loved across the state. His untimely demise leaves behind a huge loss and an irreplaceable void. I have had the pleasure of interacting with him numerous times, will always remember for the kindness he showered upon me. My deepest condolences to the Pawar family, his loved ones, and millions of supporters.”
“Deeply shocked and stunned by the suddden demise of Ajit Pawar! The Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra and his co-passengers have died in a disastrous plane crash at Baramati today morning, and I am feeling a deep sense of loss. My condolences to his family including his uncle Sharad Pawar ji, and late Ajitji's all friends and followers,” West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee said in a post on X.
“The incident needs proper investigation,” she added.
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar died in a plane crash near Baramati in Pune district on the morning of 28 January. The accident occurred while the chartered aircraft was attempting to land at Baramati airport. The aircraft crash-landed off the runway. 
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) confirmed that the 66-year-old was on board the Learjet 45. Pawar was travelling with Vidip Jadhav, attendant Pinky Mali and Personal Security Officer (PSO) Sumit Kapoor. Read here.
On Demise of Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, Union Minister Ramdas Athawale says, "... He was a great leader of Maharashtra. He had joined Mahayuti for the development of the state. He did remarkable work for Maharashtra and achieved great success in the Maharashtra local body elections. His sudden death in a plane crash is a great loss for Maharashtra..." (ANI)
A devastating plane crash near Baramati airport on Wednesday morning claimed the life of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and four others, with eyewitnesses describing scenes of repeated explosions, raging flames and helpless locals unable to rescue those on board. Read here.
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar took his last flight from Mumbai. The 8th Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, along with Eknath Shinde under Devendra Fadnavis-led government, was onboard Learjet 45 aircraft. The senior NCP leader took off on a private charter flight with 5 others on Wednesday morning when his plane crash landed near Baramati airstrip, few minutes before planned landing. The aircraft bearing number “VTSSKLJ45” was operated by VSR Ventures Pvt Ltd. Read here.
Wreckage of aircraft at the crash site in Baramati. The plane carried five people, including Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, all of whom died in the plane crash. (ANI)
On the death of Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar in a crash landing in Baramati, BJP MP Kangana Ranaut says, "This is such horrible news...There are not enough words to express..."
On the passing away of his colleague Ajit Pawar, Maharashtra Dy CM Eknath Shinde says," It is an unfortunate day for Maharashtra. This is a painful incident for su and whole of Maharashtra. Ajit Dada was a man of his word. We worked as a team when I was the CM, and he was Dy CM. As team we had started the Ladli Behen Yojana, and Ajit dada played an important role in it.." (ANI)
In a message posted on 'X', Shah said, "The way Ajit Pawar ji dedicated himself to the welfare of every section of society in Maharashtra over the past three-and-a-half decades cannot be expressed in words.
"Today, the news of the loss of Maharashtra's deputy chief minister and our senior NDA colleague Ajit Pawar ji in a tragic accident has left my heart deeply distressed," he said.
Expressing deepest condolences to the Pawar family, Shah said that in this hour of grief, the entire NDA stands firmly with the bereaved Pawar family.
"Whenever we met, he would engage in long discussions on numerous issues related to the welfare of the people of Maharashtra. His passing is a personal loss not only for the NDA family but also for me," the home minister said.
As reported by ANI, speaking on the demise of Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, Karnataka Law Minister HK Patil said, "An active political leader and a senior cooperator, Mr Ajit Pawar unfortunately took his last breath because of the plane accident... Under the guidance of Sharad Pawar and the family, Ajit Pawar grew to this extent... So many VIPs have lost their lives. Maybe because of commercial gains, proper technical things are not being followed..."
The ill-fated aircraft carrying Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar appeared "a bit unstable in the air" and exploded the moment it crashed on the ground near Baramati in Pune district on Wednesday morning, according to a woman eyewitness, PTI reported.
"It took a round in the air, appeared a bit unstable and as it was approaching the runway to land, it hit the ground hard and exploded. There was a loud sound and could be heard at our home," the woman told a news channel. PTI
Baramati airport manager Shivaji Taware told Hindustan Times that the aircraft, VT SSK, was attempting to land and the aircraft went off the side of the runway and exploded on crashing.
The aircraft was a Learjet 45, chartered from Mumbai, officials told HT.
Baramati Airport, previously operated privately, was recently handed over to the Maharashtra Airport Development Company, HT reported.
In a post on X, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi wrote, “The news of the demise of Maharashtra's Deputy Chief Minister Shri Ajit Pawar Ji and his fellow travelers in an airplane accident today is extremely heartbreaking. In this moment of grief, I stand with the people of Maharashtra. I extend my condolences to the entire Pawar family and their loved ones during this hour of sorrow.”
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and four other persons were killed after an aircraft carrying them crashed in Pune district on Wednesday morning, PTI reported. The incident occurred when the plane carrying Pawar (66) and others landed near Baramati.
What led to the plane crash?
Baramati airport manager Shivaji Taware told Hindustan Times that the aircraft, VT SSK, was attempting to land and the aircraft went off the side of the runway and exploded on crashing.
The aircraft was a Learjet 45, chartered from Mumbai, officials told HT.
Baramati Airport, previously operated privately, was recently handed over to the Maharashtra Airport Development Company, HT reported.
What do you need to know about the aircraft?
According to Flight Radar, the flight took off from Mumbai at 8.10 am and it disappeared from radar around 8.45 am.
The aircraft, which crashed-landed in Baramati, was a Learjet 45, as per the DGCA. The Learjet 45 is a mid-size business jet produced by Bombardier Aerospace.
The model was developed in the 1990s as a competitor in the "super-light" business jet category, and as a rival to the popular Cessna Citation Excel / XLS aircraft. The Learjet 45 has a 1,971-nautical-mile (3,650 km; 2,268 mi) range at Mach 0.81.
How many people were on board?
A total of five members were on board: Ajit Pawar, two more personnel (1 PSO and 1 attendant) and two crew (PIC+FO) members.
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Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and five other persons died after an aircraft carrying them crashed in Pune district on Wednesday morning, confirmed by DCGA.
Initial information suggested that the aircraft was being used by Ajit Pawar, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief and Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister.
According to Flight Radar, the flight took off from Mumbai at 8.10 am and it disappeared from radar around 8.45 am.
Official documents note that the Maharashtra Deputy CM was scheduled to travel to Baramati later in the day to attend a series of four public engagements.
Read | Caught on CCTV: Harrowing moments when Ajit Pawar's plane crashed and burst into flames; AAIB to probe accident
According to preliminary reports, the aircraft reportedly carrying Ajit Pawar encountered difficulties while attempting an emergency landing, resulting in a crash in Maharashtra's Baramati. Several occupants sustained injuries and were swiftly transported to nearby hospitals for treatment.
Baramati airport manager Shivaji Taware told Hindustan Times that the aircraft, VT SSK, was attempting to land and the aircraft went off the side of the runway and exploded on crashing.
The aircraft was a Learjet 45, chartered from Mumbai, officials told HT.
Baramati Airport, previously operated privately, was recently handed over to the Maharashtra Airport Development Company, HT reported.
Read | Supriya Sule, Sunetra Pawar break down as they meet family members after Ajit Pawar's death in plane crash — Video
Meanwhile, visuals from the scene showed the severely damaged wreckage of the aircraft, with emergency personnel and ambulances deployed at the site. Authorities have cordoned off the area as rescue and recovery efforts continue.
The cause of the emergency landing has not yet been established, and officials said further details would be released once technical assessments and eyewitness accounts are examined.
Get all the Ajit Pawar Death News LIVE on Mint.
Indian cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar expressed grief at the news of the tragic demise of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who was killed in a charter plane crash in Baramati on Wednesday morning.
In a post shared on X, Tendulkar wrote, "Very sad to learn about the untimely demise of Shri Ajit Pawar ji. Maharashtra has lost a dedicated leader who worked for the people, across the state. My heartfelt condolences to his family and friends. Om Shanti."
Maharashtra Minister and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Babasaheb Mohanrao Patil, along with NCP leader Vikram Vasantrao Kale, broke down while reacting to the death of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in Latur on Wednesday.
On Maharashtra Dy CM Ajit Pawar's demise in a plane crash, NCP leader Deepak Mankar said: "He has done great work for Maharashtra, and the world will always remember him. I want to say that our love for him will always remain... This accident is a huge tragedy for this country, and we will always remember the efforts of this great leader, whom young people admired so much, and his dedication to doing good work in Maharashtra.
We can never forget him. Because our relationship wasn't just that of a worker and a leader. There was a different kind of love between us, and I am deeply saddened. My party is also deeply saddened. All the party workers from Pune city are very sad, and may God guide his soul to a better place."
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Nationalist Congress Party chief Ajit Pawar died after his plane crashed on Wednesday while attempting to land in Baramati. The aircraft had four other personnel on board — a security officer, an attendant, and two crew members, including the pilot-in-command and the first officer. Check Ajit Pawar's last social media post here
The funeral of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who passed away earlier in the morning following a tragic plane crash, will be held tomorrow, Thursday, at 11 am. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah are likely to attend.
The mortal remains of Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar are being taken to the Vidya Pratishthan ground for the public to pay their last respects.
PM Modi spoke to Sharad Pawar, and conveyed condolences following Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar's death in air crash in Baramati.
Nationalist Congress Party (SP) chief Sharad Pawar and Ajit Pawar’s wife Sunetra Pawar arrived in Baramati on Wednesday, hours after the Maharashtra deputy chief minister was killed in a tragic plane crash. Sunetra Pawar and Ajit Pawar’s cousin Supriya Sule were seen breaking down in tears.
Visuals from outside the residence of Vidip Dilip Jadhav, the personal security officer (PSO) of Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, who was also onboard the ill-fated charter plane that crash landed in Baramati.
All five people onboard the aircraft died in the accident.
NCP supporters with a photo of their party chief & Deputy CM Ajit Pawar gather in large numbers outside Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Holkar Government Medical College in Baramati.
Bollywood actor and Member of Parliament Kangana Ranaut expressed deep shock over the sudden death of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, calling the news "horrible" and difficult to process.
While speaking to the media, Ranaut struggled to find the right words to describe the tragedy. Visibly shocked by the loss, she said, "Oh my God. That's horrible. This is such horrible news. There are not enough words to express. Apne emotions ko align karke, I will give a statement later."
The last rites of Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar will be performed with full state honours, news agency ANI reported, citing the Maharashtra General Administration Department (Protocol).
During the three-day mourning period, the national flag will be flown at half-mast on all buildings across Maharashtra where it is regularly hoisted. No government entertainment programmes will be organised during this period. All state government offices across Maharashtra will remain closed on Wednesday, January 28, 2026.
“This is very sad... This is a very painful hour for the Pawar family. At this time, I can only pray to the Lord that they be given the strength to bear this sorrow,” Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav told news agency ANI outside the Parliament.
"We are deeply saddened by his sudden demise. There was such a big victory in the recent civic elections. This is very painful. He had become a strong pillar of the NDA," BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad told news agency ANI.
BJP MP Kangana Ranaut on Wednesday criticized Mamata Banerjee for her suggestion that foul play could be involved in Ajit Pawar's death, describing the West Bengal Chief Minister's words as “neech baatein”.
“Very sad to learn about the untimely demise of Shri Ajit Pawar ji. Maharashtra has lost a dedicated leader who worked for the people, across the state. My heartfelt condolences to his family and friends. Om Shanti,” Tendulkar wrote on X.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday suggested that there could be foul play involved in the plane crash that led to the death of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and four others.
“Even political leaders are not safe in this country, let alone common people. Two days ago, I came to know that someone from another party had given a statement that Pawar was willing to leave the BJP, and now this has happened today,” Mamata said, hinting at potential foul play.
“I demand a proper investigation under the supervision of the Supreme Court. We have trust only in the Supreme Court and no other agency. All agencies have been completely compromised. It is truly a great loss. Today he is in the opposition, but tomorrow he was supposed to return to the original course of his party,” she said, as per news agency PTI.
Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau left for Baramati from Delhi to inspect and start investigating the crash landing, ANI reported citing MoCA (Ministry of Civil Aviation).
Five people, including Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, on board a Mumbai-Baramati charter plane died when it crash landed in Baramati.
As reported by ANI, Union MoS Bhagwat Karad says, "Ajit Dada was a tall leader of Maharashtra who was in politics for a long time. The whole of Maharashtra is saddened by his demise today. "
Lok Sabha pays obituary to Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, who was a former MP. He died in a crash landing in Baramati this morning.
On plane crash and demise of Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, Pune Rural SP Sandeep Singh says," The aircraft carrying 5 people crashed just before landing at around 8:40 am today. Five people have died in this incident, and their bodies have been brought to the hospital here. We will provide an update after the bodies are identified. An expert team is present at the crash site." (ANI)
A local resident says, "We live here and behind us there is an airstrip where we saw that a plane came and it did not land. It went further, but then it turned back in sometime and started landing. But then it crash landed just before the runway. As soon as we saw that, we informed the people we knew around the airstrip, so the police and others came immediately. They tried to extinguish the fire. After 15 minutes, they could douse the fire and when we went near, we saw a headless body lying there. It was completely burned and swollen. We could not identify it, but later, with the help of something in the hand, it was identified that it was the body of Dada (Ajit Pawar). Police team came to us and asked for water. We gave them, and they also asked for clothes to cover it, so we gave a new blanket from our house." (ANI)
In the wake of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar's demise in a plane crash on Wednesday, Shiv Sena leader Raju Waghmare has raised serious concerns on the manufacturer of the plane involved in the incident, recalling that the same company's plane was involved in crash at Mumbai Airport in 2023, ANI reported.
Waghmare said the incident warrants a comprehensive investigation into the company's operations and safety standards.
"The chartered plane belonged to the company called VSR, which is the same company whose plane had previously crashed on 14 October 2023 at Mumbai airport, where all the passengers had luckily survived. It was a technical snag that led to that incident, and a similar incident happened today with the same company's plane. This is a matter that needs thorough investigation. The owner of the company (VSR) is from Delhi...," he said. (ANI)
Huge crowd gathers outside Baramati hospital as mortal remains of Maharashtra Deputy CM and NCP leader, Ajit Pawar, have been brought here
He died in a charter plane crash while travelling from Mumbai to Bramati this morning.
As reported by ANI, Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis said," We have declared a three-day mourning in the state.
On the demise of Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, Karnataka DCM DK Shivakumar says, "Ajit Pawar's death is shocking. I was also shocked to hear the news of his death. We, as politicians, should be very careful. We should be careful while travelling abroad. We have lost many leaders like this. Ajit Pawar is a leader with very progressive ideas. The Maharashtra Chief Minister had said just the other day that he is cooperating in all works. May his soul rest in peace. May the Lord give his family and supporters the strength to bear the grief. His family has also established ties in Bengaluru. He met his relatives on Tuesday. Ajit Pawar is a senior leader. He left the party for a political future and came back. I will not talk about this. He was currently serving as the Maharashtra DCM."
On the increase in plane crashes and the claim that it was a technical fault, he says, "I will talk about this after a detailed report comes. What do I know about the technical fault? Many people, including friends from Mumbai, have informed me about it."
On Karnataka Minister Ramappa Timmapur, he says, "In my opinion, R B Timmapur has nothing to do with the controversy. The opposition is exaggerating as much as they want. I will discuss this in detail with the Chief Minister and then inform him. There is a political conspiracy going on.
Kangana Ranaut was shocked to hear about Ajit Pawar’s death. Upon reaching Parliament, she learned of the plane crash from journalists. Read here.
Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar's death: Plane crash will be probed, said Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, as reported by PTI.
Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis expresses grief over the demise of Deputy CM Ajit Pawar in an aircraft crash. He says, “This morning, a very tragic incident occurred. In extremely unforeseen circumstances, the news of the unfortunate demise of our state’s deputy chief minister, Ajit Pawar, in an aircraft accident reached everyone, spreading a wave of grief across Maharashtra. For Maharashtra, today is an extremely difficult day. Such leadership takes many years to develop, and at a time when he was making very significant contributions to the state’s development, his passing is both unbelievable and shocking. Personally, I have lost a strong and generous friend. This is also an enormous loss for his family.”
President Draupadi Murmu on Wednesday condoled the death of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar. Sharing an X post, Murmu said that the untimely demise of Ajit Pawar is an "irreparable loss" for the nation.
She wrote, "The news of the death of several people, including Maharashtra's Deputy Chief Minister Shri Ajit Pawar, in a plane crash in Baramati, Maharashtra, is extremely tragic. The untimely demise of Ajit Pawar ji is an irreparable loss. He will always be remembered for his special contribution to the development of Maharashtra, especially in the cooperative sector. I express my deep condolences to his family, supporters, and admirers. May God grant strength to the families of all others who lost their lives in this accident to bear this blow."
In a post on X, Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani wrote, “Deeply saddened by the passing of Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister, Ajit Pawar. Just a month ago, we stood together in Baramati for the inauguration of the Sharad Pawar Centre of Excellence in AI - a moment that reflected Ajit ji's vision, his belief in progress and his commitment to Bharat’s youth and her future. May we honour his legacy by continuing the work he championed to build a future-ready Maharashtra. May his soul rest in peace. 🙏”
Bollywood actor Ritesh Deshmukh on Wednesday condoled Ajit Pawar's death in plane crash. In a post on X, he wrote, “Deeply shocked and terribly heartbroken to learn that we have lost Ajit Dada in a tragic accident. One of Maharashtra’s most dynamic leaders, he had zero tolerance for non-performance and constantly pushed and inspired those around him to excel. He never minced his words, his wit was unmatched, and he was deeply loved across the state. His untimely demise leaves behind a huge loss and an irreplaceable void. I have had the pleasure of interacting with him numerous times, will always remember for the kindness he showered upon me. My deepest condolences to the Pawar family, his loved ones, and millions of supporters.”
“Deeply shocked and stunned by the suddden demise of Ajit Pawar! The Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra and his co-passengers have died in a disastrous plane crash at Baramati today morning, and I am feeling a deep sense of loss. My condolences to his family including his uncle Sharad Pawar ji, and late Ajitji's all friends and followers,” West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee said in a post on X.
“The incident needs proper investigation,” she added.
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar died in a plane crash near Baramati in Pune district on the morning of 28 January. The accident occurred while the chartered aircraft was attempting to land at Baramati airport. The aircraft crash-landed off the runway. 
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) confirmed that the 66-year-old was on board the Learjet 45. Pawar was travelling with Vidip Jadhav, attendant Pinky Mali and Personal Security Officer (PSO) Sumit Kapoor. Read here.
On Demise of Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, Union Minister Ramdas Athawale says, "... He was a great leader of Maharashtra. He had joined Mahayuti for the development of the state. He did remarkable work for Maharashtra and achieved great success in the Maharashtra local body elections. His sudden death in a plane crash is a great loss for Maharashtra..." (ANI)
A devastating plane crash near Baramati airport on Wednesday morning claimed the life of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and four others, with eyewitnesses describing scenes of repeated explosions, raging flames and helpless locals unable to rescue those on board. Read here.
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar took his last flight from Mumbai. The 8th Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, along with Eknath Shinde under Devendra Fadnavis-led government, was onboard Learjet 45 aircraft. The senior NCP leader took off on a private charter flight with 5 others on Wednesday morning when his plane crash landed near Baramati airstrip, few minutes before planned landing. The aircraft bearing number “VTSSKLJ45” was operated by VSR Ventures Pvt Ltd. Read here.
Wreckage of aircraft at the crash site in Baramati. The plane carried five people, including Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, all of whom died in the plane crash. (ANI)
On the death of Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar in a crash landing in Baramati, BJP MP Kangana Ranaut says, "This is such horrible news...There are not enough words to express..."
On the passing away of his colleague Ajit Pawar, Maharashtra Dy CM Eknath Shinde says," It is an unfortunate day for Maharashtra. This is a painful incident for su and whole of Maharashtra. Ajit Dada was a man of his word. We worked as a team when I was the CM, and he was Dy CM. As team we had started the Ladli Behen Yojana, and Ajit dada played an important role in it.." (ANI)
In a message posted on 'X', Shah said, "The way Ajit Pawar ji dedicated himself to the welfare of every section of society in Maharashtra over the past three-and-a-half decades cannot be expressed in words.
"Today, the news of the loss of Maharashtra's deputy chief minister and our senior NDA colleague Ajit Pawar ji in a tragic accident has left my heart deeply distressed," he said.
Expressing deepest condolences to the Pawar family, Shah said that in this hour of grief, the entire NDA stands firmly with the bereaved Pawar family.
"Whenever we met, he would engage in long discussions on numerous issues related to the welfare of the people of Maharashtra. His passing is a personal loss not only for the NDA family but also for me," the home minister said.
As reported by ANI, speaking on the demise of Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, Karnataka Law Minister HK Patil said, "An active political leader and a senior cooperator, Mr Ajit Pawar unfortunately took his last breath because of the plane accident... Under the guidance of Sharad Pawar and the family, Ajit Pawar grew to this extent... So many VIPs have lost their lives. Maybe because of commercial gains, proper technical things are not being followed..."
The ill-fated aircraft carrying Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar appeared "a bit unstable in the air" and exploded the moment it crashed on the ground near Baramati in Pune district on Wednesday morning, according to a woman eyewitness, PTI reported.
"It took a round in the air, appeared a bit unstable and as it was approaching the runway to land, it hit the ground hard and exploded. There was a loud sound and could be heard at our home," the woman told a news channel. PTI
Baramati airport manager Shivaji Taware told Hindustan Times that the aircraft, VT SSK, was attempting to land and the aircraft went off the side of the runway and exploded on crashing.
The aircraft was a Learjet 45, chartered from Mumbai, officials told HT.
Baramati Airport, previously operated privately, was recently handed over to the Maharashtra Airport Development Company, HT reported.
In a post on X, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi wrote, “The news of the demise of Maharashtra's Deputy Chief Minister Shri Ajit Pawar Ji and his fellow travelers in an airplane accident today is extremely heartbreaking. In this moment of grief, I stand with the people of Maharashtra. I extend my condolences to the entire Pawar family and their loved ones during this hour of sorrow.”
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and four other persons were killed after an aircraft carrying them crashed in Pune district on Wednesday morning, PTI reported. The incident occurred when the plane carrying Pawar (66) and others landed near Baramati.
What led to the plane crash?
Baramati airport manager Shivaji Taware told Hindustan Times that the aircraft, VT SSK, was attempting to land and the aircraft went off the side of the runway and exploded on crashing.
The aircraft was a Learjet 45, chartered from Mumbai, officials told HT.
Baramati Airport, previously operated privately, was recently handed over to the Maharashtra Airport Development Company, HT reported.
What do you need to know about the aircraft?
According to Flight Radar, the flight took off from Mumbai at 8.10 am and it disappeared from radar around 8.45 am.
The aircraft, which crashed-landed in Baramati, was a Learjet 45, as per the DGCA. The Learjet 45 is a mid-size business jet produced by Bombardier Aerospace.
The model was developed in the 1990s as a competitor in the "super-light" business jet category, and as a rival to the popular Cessna Citation Excel / XLS aircraft. The Learjet 45 has a 1,971-nautical-mile (3,650 km; 2,268 mi) range at Mach 0.81.
How many people were on board?
A total of five members were on board: Ajit Pawar, two more personnel (1 PSO and 1 attendant) and two crew (PIC+FO) members.
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AI Description
The article reports on the tragic plane crash that resulted in the death of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar. The incident has drawn national attention and led to public mourning.