A routine political trip turned fatal on Wednesday when a private aircraft carrying Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar crashed in western India, claiming the lives of all five people on board.
The Learjet 45, a mid-size private jet, had departed from Mumbai, India’s financial hub, bound for Baramati, Pawar’s hometown and political stronghold, where he was scheduled to campaign ahead of local elections.
Onboard were Pawar, two members of his personal staff, and two crew members—individuals accustomed to frequent travel across the state for political and official duties.
The flight, expected to be brief and uneventful, ended abruptly when the aircraft crash-landed in an open field and erupted in flames.
Thick plumes of smoke captured on television footage highlighted the severity of the crash, and authorities confirmed that there were no survivors.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation stated that all five occupants had perished.
The cause of the accident remains under investigation, with authorities examining flight data and wreckage to determine what went wrong in the final moments of the journey.
Pawar, 66, was a central figure in Maharashtra politics, particularly in Baramati and the state’s sugar belt, where he held deep influence over rural voters.
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His aides, part of a close-knit team, and the experienced crew shared his fate, underscoring the human cost of the crash.
The news sent shockwaves through Maharashtra’s political circles. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences, describing Pawar as “a dedicated leader whose passion for empowering the poor and downtrodden was remarkable.” Modi added that Pawar’s “untimely demise is very shocking and saddening,” extending sympathy to his family and supporters.
What was meant to be a routine journey for political work has instead left a state and countless admirers mourning the sudden loss of one of its most prominent leaders.