Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and four others on board an aircraft were reported dead after the aircraft crashed in the Pune district, officials said on Wednesday.
The aircraft reportedly crashed while attempting to land near Baramati in Pune district earlier in the morning.
According to Flight Radar, the flight took off from Mumbai at 8.10 am and it disappeared from radar around 8.45 am.
A source told PTI that the aircraft pilot had mentioned about poor visibility near the runway, before the aircraft attempted the landing.
Pawar was traveling to Baramati from Mumbai to address public meetings as part of the campaign for the February 5 zilla parishad elections in the state.
The Learjet 45 (LJ45), a mid-size business jet aircraft produced by the Learjet Division of Bombardier Aerospace, went off the runway while attempting to land at Baramati airport and burst into flames.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation confirmed that Ajit Pawar died in the crash. It said that a Learjet 45 aircraft (registration VT-SSK) operated by VSR crash-landed at Baramati.
There were five passengers, Deputy CM of Maharashtra Ajit Pawar onboard along with two more personnel (one PSO and one attendant) and two crew members (pilot in-command and the first officer), DGCA said.
The 66-year-old was the nephew of veteran politician and NCP founder Sharad Pawar, and a cousin of Lok Sabha MP Supriya Sule. Pawar and Sule, who were in Delhi for Parliament’s Budget Session,have already departed for Maharashtra.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep sorrow over the tragic death of the NCP leader.
In a condolence message, Prime Minister Modi said he was “deeply saddened by the tragic air crash in Baramati, Maharashtra,” adding that his thoughts were with the families who lost their loved ones in the incident. He prayed for strength and courage for the bereaved families in this moment of profound grief.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah is learnt to have left for Pune after getting information about the crash.
In a post on X, the Union Home Minister said he was "deeply distressed.". "The way Ajit Pawar ji dedicated himself to the welfare of every section in Maharashtra cannot be described in words. His death is a personal loss for me."
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has said he is "deeply shocked and pained". "Throughout his long public life, he remained committed to the development and prosperity of Maharashtra. He was known for his compassion for the people and his unwavering dedication to public service. I extend my heartfelt condolences to his family, well-wishers, and admirers," he said.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also expressed shock and grief over the sudden demise of Ajit Pawar and his co-passengers.
Calling the incident a “deep personal loss,” she extended her condolences to Pawar’s family, including his uncle Sharad Pawar, and to his friends, followers, and supporters. She also emphasized the need for a proper investigation into the incident.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge described Pawar’s demise as a profound loss to Indian politics and offered his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family, supporters and well‑wishers during this difficult time.
He recalled Pawar’s long years of public service and commitment to the people of Maharashtra, highlighting his contributions to the state’s governance and development.
In his message, Kharge also extended sympathies to all those affected by the accident, praying for strength and peace to the family and followers of the late leader.
Leaders across party lines have expressed condolences, mourning the loss of a senior political leader.