By Micah Jonah, January 28, 2026
In a tragic accident, Ajit Pawar, Deputy Chief Minister of India’s wealthiest state, Maharashtra, died on Wednesday along with four others when his charter aircraft crashed in flames near Baramati.
The Learjet 45, operated by VSR Ventures, went down while attempting an emergency landing en route from Mumbai to Pawar’s hometown, where he was scheduled to canvass in local body elections. All five people on board including two staff and two crew members were killed, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation confirmed.
Video footage from the scene showed smoke and flames consuming the wreckage, with witnesses reporting multiple explosions. Emergency personnel were unable to rescue anyone due to the intensity of the fire.
Pawar, a prominent political figure from a leading family, had backed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party in the state government, after splitting from the opposition Nationalist Congress Party in 2023. Modi described Pawar’s death as “shocking and saddening” in a social media post.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation. VSR Ventures director VK Singh stated that the aircraft was “100% safe” and that the crew was experienced, but did not provide further details on what led to the accident.
This incident marks a significant loss for Maharashtra’s political leadership and comes as the state prepares for key local elections.
