Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar Killed in Plane Crash Near Baramati

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, 66, died in a plane crash near Baramati Airport on Wednesday morning. The Learjet 45, which departed from Mumbai around 8:45 a.m., also claimed the lives of two staff members and two crew.

Pawar, an eight-term MLA and prominent figure in Maharashtra politics, was traveling to attend election rallies in his hometown. Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to his decades of grassroots service, while leaders across parties, including Rahul Gandhi, expressed condolences. Authorities are investigating the cause of the crash, examining factors such as fog, and have recovered the aircraft’s black box for analysis.