Ajit Pawar Plane Crash: Maharashtra Announces Three-Day Mourning As CM Fadnavis Pays Tribute To Deputy CM
Ajit Pawar Plane Crash: Maharashtra Announces Three-Day Mourning As CM Fadnavis Pays Tribute To Deputy CM
Baramati | Maharashtra, January 28, 2026: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and senior Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Ajit Pawar died on Wednesday morning after the chartered aircraft he was travelling in crashed while attempting to land at Baramati Airport in Pune district. The tragic incident occurred at around 8.45 am, triggering widespread grief across the state.
The aircraft involved was a Learjet 45 (registration VT-SSK) operated by VSR Ventures, officials confirmed. The flight had taken off from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, Mumbai, at approximately 8.10 am, and was headed to Baramati, where Pawar was scheduled to attend public meetings ahead of the Zilla Parishad elections.
All On Board Lost Their Lives
According to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), all five people on board lost their lives in the crash. The victims included Ajit Pawar, his personal security officer Sumit Kapoor, an attendant Pinky Mali, and two crew members.
Eyewitnesses and aviation officials said the aircraft appeared unstable during its final descent. It reportedly veered off the runway during landing and erupted into flames, followed by multiple explosions. Due to the intensity of the fire, rescue operations could not be carried out.
🕛 11.53am | 28-1-2026📍Mumbai.
— Devendra Fadnavis (@Dev_Fadnavis) January 28, 2026
LIVE | Media Interaction#Maharashtra #Mumbai https://t.co/RuZqmWtpAS
State Mourning Announced
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis expressed deep sorrow over the loss, remembering Ajit Pawar as a close friend and a generous public figure who played a significant role in the state’s political and administrative life. The state government has announced three days of official mourning as a mark of respect.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and several senior leaders across party lines also condoled Pawar’s death, describing it as a major loss to Maharashtra and national politics.
A detailed investigation has been launched by the DGCA to ascertain the exact cause of the crash. Further updates are awaited as authorities continue their probe.
