Plane Crash near Baramati kills Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar and four others as 16-year-old charter aircraft goes down during landing.
Qalam Times News Network
Baramati | Wednesday, January 28, 2026
Plane Crash : 16-year-old chartered Learjet-45 goes down during landing attempt; nation mourns senior NCP leader
Plane Crash tragedy struck Maharashtra on Wednesday morning when a chartered aircraft carrying Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar crashed near Baramati, killing all five people on board. The aircraft, flying from Mumbai to Baramati, met with the accident at around 8:48 am while attempting to land. Officials confirmed that there were no survivors.
According to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the aircraft was a VT-SSK Learjet-45 (LJ45), a mid-size business jet commonly used for charter operations. Along with Ajit Pawar, two crew members and two of his associates were on board. The Plane Crash occurred close to the runway, after which the aircraft caught fire, making rescue efforts impossible. The incident was also confirmed by Pawar’s personal assistant, Anil Dhikle, in a statement to BBC Marathi.
The other victims of the crash have been identified as Sumit Kapoor, Shambhavi Pathak, Vidit Jadhav, and Pinky Mali. Pawar’s security personnel were also travelling with him at the time of the incident. Sources said the Deputy CM was heading to Baramati to address multiple public meetings ahead of the upcoming district council and panchayat committee elections.
The Learjet-45 involved in the accident was manufactured by Canada-based Bombardier and had been in service since 2010, making it nearly 16 years old. The aircraft is powered by two Honeywell TFE731 turbofan engines, has a seating capacity of around eight passengers, and is known for a flight range of nearly 3,000 kilometres. Authorities have ordered a detailed technical investigation to determine the exact cause of the crash.
The sudden demise of Ajit Pawar has triggered an outpouring of grief across the political spectrum. Prime Minister Narendra Modi described him as a mass leader with deep grassroots connect, while Home Minister Amit Shah called his death a personal and political loss. Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi termed the news “deeply painful” and expressed solidarity with the people of Maharashtra.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced three days of state mourning, calling Pawar’s passing an irreparable loss to the state. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also expressed shock and demanded a thorough probe into the incident. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari remembered Pawar as an able administrator with a lasting impact on Maharashtra’s politics.
Following the accident, members of the Pawar family began travelling to Baramati from Delhi and Mumbai, including senior leader Sharad Pawar. Leaders from various parties and NCP workers have been reaching Baramati since morning as the state comes to terms with the loss of one of its most influential political figures.
