Ajit Pawar Dies in Baramati Plane Crash: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Among Five Killed

The deputy chief minister of Maharashtra died when Ajit Pawar, who served as deputy chief minister of Maharashtra, died on January 28, 2026 when the charter aircraft he was traveling in crashed during its landing approach to Baramati airfield in Pune district. The accident occurred in the morning when the small private plane, flying from Mumbai, was on approach to Baramati for a local election event.

The crash resulted in the death of all five people on board, which included Pawar and his two staff members and two crew members. The aircraft operated by VSR Ventures used a Bombardier Learjet 45 which had the registration number VT-SSK. The plane executed an emergency landing attempt at 08:45 local time.

The second landing attempt ended when the aircraft crashed near the runway and the resulting fire killed all people on board. Witnesses reported seeing the aircraft engulfed in fire almost immediately after the crash, making rescue efforts impossible at the scene. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) were notified and teams were deployed to begin an inquiry into the cause of the accident.

Circumstances of the Crash and Weather Conditions

The initial report described that the accident site had poor visibility together with landing conditions that proved to be extremely challenging. The radar data showed that the plane had completed its first landing attempt but stopped short of landing which occurred because of low visibility conditions and other operational difficulties. The aircraft lost control during its second landing attempt and crashed to the ground before reaching the runway where it started to burn after impact.

Civil aviation sources reported that the pilot experienced runway visibility problems before making both of his landing attempts. Baramati’s airfield operates as an uncontrolled field that lacks a complete air traffic control tower system which depends on local flight training services to direct aircraft movements in the area.

The investigation continues to examine the final moments of the flight together with all events that happened before the aircraft crashed. The authorities are investigating three aspects which include weather conditions and cockpit-to-ground communication and technical systems that might have contributed to the situation.

Victims and Immediate Response

The plane crash resulted in the deaths of Ajit Pawar and Captain Sumit Kapur and Captain Shambhavi Pathak and Vidip Jadhav and Pinky Mali. Officials described the crash as total and fatal for everyone on board because the plane sustained complete destruction through fire.

The hospital in Baramati received Pawar’s body which attracted thousands of supporters who came to honor him. The state government declared three days of official mourning, and a state funeral and last rites were scheduled for the following day.

Political Impact and Reactions

Reactions showed their presence from every part of India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered his condolences to senior NCP leader Sharad Pawar while he expressed his surprise at the unexpected death. The combination of union ministers and state leaders together with political leaders from various parties recognized Ajit Pawar’s extensive public service and his contributions to administration while they regarded the accident as a significant loss to both Maharashtra and India.

Bollywood actors together with public figures expressed their sadness while they paid tribute to Pawar through their condolences to his family. The Pawar political base in Baramati saw both supporters and residents respond with intense grief to the sudden death of the Pawar family.

Investigation and Next Steps

The researchers from DGCA and AAIB continue their investigation of the crash. The investigation team needs to determine how weather conditions and visibility and operational choices affected the crash. Civil aviation officials confirmed that no distress call or mayday was issued before impact and that poor runway visibility was reported before the second landing attempt. The investigation will produce a complete technical report which will become available after the investigation reaches its conclusion.

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