Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar dies in Pune plane crash

Public Lokpal
January 28, 2026

Mumbai : 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.

Details on the exact cause of the crash, the identities of other passengers on board, and the sequence of events leading up to the accident are still emerging. Investigations are underway to determine what led to the tragic crash.

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.