The political landscape of Maharashtra is in mourning following the tragic death of Ajit Pawar, the state's longest-serving Deputy Chief Minister, in a plane crash near Baramati on Wednesday, January 28, 2026. The 66-year-old leader, fondly known as "Ajit Dada," along with four others, perished when the private jet they were traveling in, a Bombardier Learjet 45, crashed around 8:44 am near the Baramati airstrip, approximately 100km from Pune. The incident occurred as the aircraft attempted to land. The other victims included the two pilots, Captain Sumit Kapoor, who had 15,000 hours of flying experience, and co-pilot Captain Shambhavi Pathak, with 1,500 hours; a personal security officer, Vidip Jadhav; and a flight attendant, Pinky Mali.
Pawar was en route from Mumbai to Baramati to address public meetings ahead of the February 5 zilla parishad elections. His sudden demise brings an abrupt end to a political career that spanned four decades.
Eyewitness accounts and CCTV footage have begun to paint a clearer picture of the harrowing final moments. A recently surfaced video shows the aircraft rapidly descending near a temple in Baramati before disappearing over the horizon, followed by a large plume of smoke. The video captures the plane flipping, losing control, and free-falling before hitting the ground. Initial reports suggest the aircraft tilted to the left before the crash. Another CCTV video showed the aircraft impacting the ground behind a small shop.
The crash site became a scene of immediate response, with rescue operations launched swiftly. Ambulances and emergency teams rushed to the location to provide assistance. Visuals from the site showed fire and smoke emanating from the wreckage.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has confirmed the deaths of all five individuals on board. The cause of the accident remains under investigation. The aircraft's black box, including the Flight Data Recorder and Cockpit Voice Recorder, will be analyzed to determine the sequence of events leading to the crash.
Adding a layer of complexity, the Ministry of Civil Aviation revealed that the same Learjet 45 was involved in a landing accident at Mumbai airport in September 2023. The aircraft, operated by VSR Ventures Private Limited, has a history of incidents, with another company plane, a Learjet 45 registered as VT-DBL, also suffering a landing accident in Mumbai on September 14, 2023; this incident is still under investigation by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB).
Ajit Pawar's death has sent shockwaves through Maharashtra's political sphere. He was a prominent figure in the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and had recently reconciled with his uncle and mentor, Sharad Pawar, to jointly contest the Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad civic polls. Despite a recent electoral setback in Pune, talks of a merger between the two NCP factions were reportedly underway.
Pawar is survived by his wife, Sunetra Pawar, a NCP Rajya Sabha MP, and his sons, Jay and Parth. His legacy includes his work in sugar cooperatives in Baramati and his six terms as Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra. Tributes have poured in from across the political spectrum, with leaders acknowledging his contributions to the state and expressing condolences to his family. BJP leader Tarun Chugh described his death as a "huge loss for the country," noting Pawar's nationalist approach and long service as a minister. Chandrashekhar Bawankule expressed a deep personal loss, emphasizing the unbreakable bond shared with Pawar and the significant loss suffered by Maharashtra.
The last rites for Ajit Pawar will be held at Vidya Pratishthan with full state honors, and Prime Minister Modi and other leaders are expected to attend. As investigations continue, the state mourns the loss of a powerful and influential leader.
