Maharashtra Dy.CM Ajit Pawar dies in tragic plane crash

Baramati

In a devastating incident that has shocked the nation, Ajit Pawar, the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra and a senior leader of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), died early Wednesday morning when the private aircraft he was traveling in crash-landed during an emergency landing attempt at Baramati Airport in Pune district.

According to multiple news agencies, the chartered plane caught fire and broke into pieces as it attempted to land, scattering debris across an open field. Emergency services rushed to the scene amid thick smoke, but officials confirmed Pawar’s death along with several others on board.

Officials have reported that five to six people were aboard the aircraft, and that multiple lives were lost in the crash, though exact numbers remain under verification as rescue and investigation efforts continue.

Just hours before the accident, Pawar posted on social media, with tributes that now stand as his final public message.

Ajit Pawar, 66, was one of Maharashtra’s most influential political figures, having served multiple terms as Deputy Chief Minister, Finance Minister, and as a key strategist behind the state’s fiscal policies. His sudden death leaves a *gaping void in the state’s leadership *and triggers a period of intense political transition in one of India’s biggest states.

Maharashtra is expected to observe a period of official mourning, with reactions pouring in from leaders across India. Details on accident investigations and official statements from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) are awaited.