Ajit Pawar, Maharashtra deputy chief minister, killed in plane crash

Ajit Pawar, the deputy chief minister of Maharashtra, died on Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026, when a chartered jet crashed as it was coming in to land in Baramati, his political constituency, the New York Times reported. Four other people on board were also killed. The Bombardier Learjet 45 crashed while preparing to land in Baramati, where Mr.

Pawar had been due to campaign for upcoming local elections. Photos of the accident site shared on social media showed thick smoke rising from the wreckage of the burned aircraft and debris strewed across an open field near the citys airport. Indias Ministry of Civil Aviation said Mr.

Pawars personal security officer, an attendant and two crew members were also killed. Officials said the plane, operated by a Delhi-based aviation charter company, had aborted one landing and had received clearance to make a second when the accident happened, and that they would open an investigation into the cause.

Mr. Pawar, 66, was a member of an influential political family and had been deputy chief minister for a little over a year as part of the states governing coalition led by the Bharatiya Janata Party. He was one of two deputy chief ministers in a power-sharing arrangement meant to retain stability within the coalition and had served as deputy chief minister six times under different governments, with his latest term beginning in 2024.

ajit pawar, maharashtra deputy chief minister, bombardier learjet 45, baramati airport crash, chartered jet crash, plane crash investigation, aborted landing, delhi-based charter company, personal security officer, crew members killed, maharashtra governing coalition, bharatiya janata party, nationalist congress party, power-sharing arrangement, devendra fadnavis, eknath shinde, narendra modi, sunetra pawar, jay pawar, parth pawar, campaign in baramati, upcoming local elections, six-time deputy chief minister, influential political family, mumbai to baramati, three days of mourning, sharad pawar, state cabinet portfolios