A tragic aviation accident claimed the life of Ajit Pawar, Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister and a senior leader of the Nationalist Congress Party, on Wednesday morning. The incident occurred when a small aircraft he was travelling in crashed while attempting to land at Baramati in Pune district.
According to initial reports, the aircraft took off from Mumbai around 8 am and reached the Baramati region roughly 45 minutes later. Trouble reportedly developed during the final approach, following which the plane came down near the runway. Visuals from the site showed thick smoke, fire, and the aircraft broken into multiple pieces.
Officials said there were five people on board, including pilots and security personnel. All occupants are feared to have died in the crash. Emergency services rushed to the spot immediately, and ambulances were seen transporting victims as rescue operations continued.
Airport operations at Baramati were temporarily suspended after the incident. Arrivals and departures were delayed as authorities secured the area and began preliminary safety checks. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation is expected to conduct a detailed investigation to determine the exact cause of the crash.
Ajit Pawar, 66, was on his way to attend a series of political engagements linked to the upcoming local body elections. A key figure in Maharashtra politics, he had played a decisive role in the 2023 split of the NCP and later joined the NDA government. In recent months, there had been visible political activity suggesting coordination between the two NCP factions.
Senior leaders and party workers expressed shock as news of the accident spread. Pawar’s uncle and NCP founder Sharad Pawar, along with other family members and political colleagues, are expected to travel to Maharashtra shortly.
Authorities are likely to release an official statement after completing initial assessments at the crash site. Further updates are awaited as the investigation progresses.
