Ajit Pawar killed in Baramati plane crash; Maharashtra announces state mourning

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar has died after the aircraft carrying him crashed in Baramati on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, triggering shock across state and national politics. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) confirmed the crash, according to Al Jazeera’s report, which said the plane had taken off from Mumbai and came down at the airport in Pawar’s constituency.

The report said two members of Pawar’s staff and two crew members were also killed. Officials have not yet confirmed the precise cause of the crash, and investigation agencies are expected to examine flight data, weather conditions and operational factors to establish what went wrong during the landing attempt.

Flightradar24, an online flight tracking service cited in the report, said the aircraft was attempting a second approach to Baramati airport when it crashed. Media quotes attributed to DGCA officials indicated the aircraft was a Learjet 45 operated by a company identified as VSR, and that it crashed in the morning hours.

A witness quoted by the report described a dramatic sequence, saying the aircraft exploded shortly after impact and that the fire was too intense for bystanders to pull passengers out. In the immediate aftermath, crowds gathered at the hospital where Pawar’s body was taken, underscoring the emotion surrounding the incident in the region.

Pawar, 66, was a major figure in Maharashtra politics and is widely known as a key leader of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) family network, being the nephew of veteran politician Sharad Pawar. Over the years, he built influence through rural politics and the cooperative movement, and remained a central operator in the state’s power structure.

The report said the state announced three days of mourning, including the cancellation of public events and other official observances. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Prime Minister Narendra Modi were among leaders who issued tributes, as parties across the spectrum prepared for the political and administrative consequences of a sudden vacancy in the state’s top leadership layer.

Beyond condolences, the coming days will likely see questions raised in the Assembly and Parliament about aviation safety, the handling of VIP travel, and the speed and transparency of the probe. For Maharashtra’s government, the priority will be ensuring continuity of administration while parties navigate the succession and coalition implications in a politically sensitive period.