Ashhar Alam | New Delhi

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Nationalist Congress Party chief Ajit Pawar, along with his co-passengers, died on Wednesday morning when the chartered plane he was travelling in crash-landed near the runway at Baramati airport. Visuals from the site showed the aircraft engulfed in flames, with smoke rising from the wreckage. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) confirmed that all five people on board, including the crew and Pawar’s personal security personnel, were killed.

Pawar was travelling from Mumbai to Baramati to attend a public rally for the Zilla Parishad elections. He had been in Mumbai the previous day for a Maharashtra Cabinet Committee on Infrastructure meeting chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, attended by several state ministers including Chandrashekhar Bawankule.

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari condoled Pawar’s death, calling it “unfortunate.” Speaking to the media, Gadkari said, “Ajit Pawar’s death is a huge loss. He was my close friend in politics, and we also had familial relations. On behalf of the party, I pay my tributes to him.”

महाराष्ट्राचे उपमुख्यमंत्री अजित पवार जी यांच्या अपघाती निधनाचे वृत्त अतिशय धक्कादायक, दुर्दैवी आणि दुःखद आहे. त्यांना माझी भावपूर्ण श्रद्धांजली. गेली अनेक वर्षं राज्याच्या विधिमंडळात सोबत काम करताना अजितदादांशी अतिशय जवळचा संबंध राहिला आहे. त्यांचे प्रशासनिक कौशल्य, विकासात्मक…

— Nitin Gadkari (@nitin_gadkari) January 28, 2026

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh shared his grief on X, stating, “Deeply shocked and pained to learn about the untimely demise of Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister, Shri Ajit Pawar. Throughout his long public life, he remained committed to the development and prosperity of Maharashtra. I extend my heartfelt condolences to his family, well-wishers, and admirers.”

महाराष्ट्राचे उपमुख्यमंत्री श्री. अजित पवार यांच्या अकाली निधनाचे वृत्त ऐकून मला तीव्र धक्का बसला आहे. त्यांचे निधन हे वेदनादायी आहे।

आपल्या संपूर्ण सार्वजनिक जीवनात त्यांनी महाराष्ट्राच्या विकासासाठी आणि समृद्धीसाठी समर्पित भावनेनी कार्य केले।

त्यांना सर्वजण प्रेमाने 'दादा'…

— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) January 28, 2026

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also expressed her condolences, calling for a thorough investigation into the crash. “Deeply shocked and stunned by the sudden demise of Ajit Pawar! The Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra and his co-passengers have died in a disastrous plane crash at Baramati this morning. My condolences to his family, friends, and followers. The incident needs proper investigation,” she said in a post on X.

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…

— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) January 28, 2026

Leaders across party lines recalled Pawar’s significant contributions, particularly to the development of Baramati. Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Arvind Sawant said, “It is very sad news. The entire Pawar family is shattered. He was a bold man and played a major role in the development of Baramati. I express my condolences to his family.” Shiv Sena MP Priyanka Chaturvedi added, “This is very shocking, painful, and heart-rending. He was committed to his work, and his loss is deeply felt by the people of Baramati.”

Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also offered her sympathies, stating that she had spoken to Pawar’s wife Sunetra and his cousin Supriya Sule. NCP leaders, including Praful Patel, Supriya Sule, Pawar’s son Parth, and his wife Sunetra, were on their way to Baramati following the tragedy.

The Baramati plane crash has left Maharashtra and the political community in shock as the state mourns one of its longest-serving and most influential leaders. Further details on the cause of the crash are awaited from authorities.