By RootsAlert NewsDesk | January 28, 2026
BARAMATI — Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Ajit Pawar died tragically this morning when his chartered aircraft crashed while attempting an emergency landing at the Baramati airstrip. He was 66.
The crash, which occurred at approximately 8:45 AM, has claimed the lives of all five people on board, including two pilots, a personal security officer (PSO), and a close aide. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has confirmed the fatalities and ordered an immediate probe.
The Final Moments
Pawar was traveling from Mumbai to his political bastion of Baramati to address a series of public rallies ahead of the crucial Zilla Parishad elections scheduled for next month. He was aboard a Learjet 45 aircraft (Registration VT-SSK), operated by the Delhi-based charter firm VSR.
According to preliminary reports from the Air Traffic Control (ATC) in Pune, the pilot reported a technical snag roughly 20 minutes after takeoff and requested an emergency landing at the nearest airstrip in Baramati.
Eyewitnesses near the crash site described a harrowing scene. “The plane was flying unusually low and looked unstable,” said Ganpat More, a farm laborer working near the airfield. “It swayed violently to the left before hitting the ground near the runway boundary. There was a deafening explosion, and within seconds, the whole field was on fire.”
Rescue Operations
Local fire tenders from the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) rushed to the spot, but the intensity of the aviation fuel fire made immediate rescue impossible.
Baramati Airport authorities confirmed that the wreckage was scattered over a 200-meter radius. “We have recovered five bodies. They are charred beyond recognition, but identity cards found on the site have helped us confirm the presence of the Deputy CM,” said a senior police official on the ground.
The bodies are being moved to the Government Medical College in Baramati for post-mortem and formal identification.
A Vacuum in Maharashtra Politics
The sudden demise of Ajit Pawar, popularly known as ‘Dada’, has plunged the state’s political landscape into uncertainty. A seven-time MLA from Baramati, Pawar was the linchpin of the ruling coalition and a master strategist known for his grip on the state’s administration and finance portfolios.
His death comes at a fragile time for the NCP, which he rebuilt after a dramatic split from his uncle, Sharad Pawar, in 2023. With local body elections around the corner, his absence leaves a massive void in leadership for his faction.
Reactions Pour In
Condolences have started pouring in from across the political spectrum.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted on X:
“Shocked and saddened by the tragic passing of Shri Ajit Pawar Ji. He was a grassroots leader dedicated to the progress of Maharashtra. My deepest condolences to his family and followers.”
Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has declared three days of state mourning. “I have lost a brother and a strong colleague. Maharashtra has lost a visionary administrator,” Shinde told reporters in Mumbai, appearing visibly shaken.
Veteran leader Sharad Pawar, along with MP Supriya Sule, is reportedly rushing to Baramati from Delhi.
Investigation Launched
Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia has constituted a high-level committee under the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) to determine the cause of the crash. A team of experts is flying in from Delhi to recover the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) and Flight Data Recorder (FDR), commonly known as the ‘Black Box’.
The crash raises fresh questions about the safety of general aviation and charter operations in India, a topic expected to dominate discussions in the coming days.
