Tragedy in Baramati: Remembering Ajit Pawar (1959–2026)
Today, January 28, 2026, Maharashtra woke up to the devastating news of a tragic aviation accident that has claimed the life of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar. In a sudden and heartbreaking turn of events, the veteran leader perished when his chartered aircraft crashed while attempting to land in his home turf of Baramati.
The Details of the Accident
The accident occurred around 8:45 AM as the Deputy CM was travelling from Mumbai to Baramati to attend public rallies for the upcoming local body elections.
The Aircraft: A Bombardier Learjet 45XR (Registration: VT-SSK), operated by VSR Ventures.
The Crash: Preliminary reports from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA)indicate the aircraft encountered severe instability during its final approach. Eyewitnesses described the plane veering off the runway and bursting into flames.
Casualties: All five individuals on board—including Ajit Pawar, his personal security officer, an attendant, and two crew members—were confirmed dead at the scene.
A Massive Loss for Maharashtra Politics
Ajit Pawar was a titan of Maharashtra's political landscape. Known affectionately as "Dada," he served as the state's Deputy Chief Minister for six terms, a record in the state's history. His influence spanned decades, from his early days in cooperative institutions to becoming a key architect of the state’s modern infrastructure.
His sudden passing has left the state in a state of profound shock and mourning. Just yesterday, he was seen in Mumbai attending a cabinet committee meeting alongside Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
Tributes and Condolences
Leaders across the political spectrum have expressed their grief:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi described him as a "leader of the people" with a strong grassroots connection.
President Droupadi Murmu called his death an "irreparable loss" to the nation.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and other senior leaders have called for a thorough investigation into the cause of the crash.
The DGCA has launched a high-level probe to determine whether technical failure or operational issues led to this catastrophe.