Baramati/Pune, January 28, 2026: In a devastating incident early Wednesday, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar was killed when the private aircraft he was travelling in crash-landed near Baramati airport in Pune district while attempting to land. The tragedy has sent shockwaves through the state and the nation.
The chartered Learjet 45 aircraft (registration VT-SSK), operated by VSR, was en route from Mumbai to Baramati for scheduled political engagements, including meetings related to the forthcoming Zilla Parishad elections. At approximately 8:45 a.m., the plane crashed near the runway threshold during its final approach, bursting into flames on impact.
According to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), five people were on board, including Pawar, his personal security officer, an attendant, and two crew members — a pilot in command and a first officer. Preliminary reports confirm that all on board were killed in the crash.
Eyewitnesses and first responders described scenes of wreckage, fire, and thick smoke at the site, with emergency services quickly dispatched but unable to save any of the occupants.
Ajit Pawar, aged 66, was a towering figure in Maharashtra politics and leader of a faction of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) that split from the original party in 2023. He served as Deputy Chief Minister, holding key portfolios such as finance, and was widely regarded for his influence across the state’s political and economic spheres.
National and state leaders have expressed profound grief, with condolences pouring in from across the political spectrum. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah contacted Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for updates on the calamity, while opposition figures have urged a thorough investigation into the causes of the crash.
The DGCA has launched a formal investigation into the circumstances leading up to the crash, including potential mechanical or operational factors. As the state mourns the loss of one of its most senior leaders, tributes from citizens and politicians alike have underscored the deep void his passing leaves in Maharashtra’s political landscape.
