Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, a senior political leader, has died after the aircraft he was travelling in crashed while attempting to land near Baramati in Pune district on Wednesday morning. The Learjet 45 (registration VT-SSK) was on approach to Baramati airport when it veered off the runway and caught fire on impact, according to officials and civil aviation authorities.
Pawar, 66, was flying from Mumbai to Baramati to attend election-related engagements for the upcoming Zilla Parishad polls. All on board — Pawar, his personal security officer, an attendant and two crew members — were killed in the crash. Emergency teams responded quickly, but there were no survivors.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) confirmed the fatalities and said preliminary information indicates the aircraft lost control during the landing attempt. Visuals from the scene showed the wreckage engulfed in flames, with debris scattered near the runway threshold, underscoring the severity of the accident.
Ajit Pawar was a key figure in Maharashtra’s political landscape, serving multiple terms as Deputy Chief Minister and playing a significant role in state governance. His sudden death has prompted an outpouring of grief across political parties and the public, with leaders expressing condolences and calling for a thorough investigation into the causes of the crash.
This tragic incident marks a significant loss for Maharashtra and Indian politics, with officials and citizens alike mourning the demise of a seasoned leader news for reported.
