Ajit Pawar Death LIVE Updates: Plane Crash Will Be Probed, Says Eknath Shinde

In a formal announcement, Maharashtra Chief Minister Fadnavis declared a three-day period of state mourning to honour Ajit Pawar’s service to the state. He also stated that the day has been declared a state holiday as a mark of respect.

On Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar’s demise, Maharashtra Minister Sanjay Shirsat says, "... We still cannot believe that Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar is no longer with us. We met him yesterday at the cabinet meeting... He was known as 'Dada' in Maharashtra politics because of his great personality. He was a fearless leader who would clearly express his thoughts in public. Party workers and the people of Maharashtra are in immense grief and pain at his sudden demise..."

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Wednesday termed the death of his fellow Deputy CM Ajit Pawar as “sad and unfortunate” and said the aircraft crash that claimed his life would be investigated.

Speaking to reporters, Shinde praised Pawar’s contributions, noting that he had served alongside him in multiple cabinets and had also been his deputy during Shinde’s tenure as chief minister from 2022 to 2024.

"It is a very painful incident...very sad and unfortunate for Maharashtra. The aircraft accident will be probed," he said.

"This loss is not just of the Pawar family but of the entire state. I am feeling as if I have lost my elder brother," Shinde added.

Maharashtra deputy chief minister and NCP chief Ajit Pawar was killed after a chartered aircraft crashed during an emergency landing at Baramati airport on Wednesday morning. The aircraft, a Learjet 45, was owned and operated by VSR Ventures.

According to flight tracking website Flightradar24, the aircraft was attempting a second approach to Baramati Airport when it crashed.

The aircraft involved in the fatal crash that killed Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar had been involved in an earlier accident in 2023, making it the second aviation incident linked to VSR Ventures in Maharashtra in the last two-and-a-half years. There were no fatalities in the previous crash.

The earlier incident took place on September 14, 2023, at Mumbai airport and involved a VSR Ventures-owned Learjet 45 XR aircraft (VT-DBL) operating a non-scheduled passenger flight from Visakhapatnam to Mumbai with six passengers on board. The flight was uneventful until landing.

At around 5 pm, amid heavy rain and poor visibility, the aircraft was cleared to land on Runway 27 but drifted off course toward Apron C. About 40 seconds after the autopilot was disengaged, stall and stick shaker warnings were triggered, followed by EGPWS alerts. The aircraft crash-landed near the intersection of Taxiways W and N, split into two, and caught fire. All occupants were evacuated with injuries.

Maharashtra DCM Ajit Pawar died in a plane crash on January 28, 2026, while landing at Baramati airport. The charter aircraft, en route from Mumbai, crashed and killed all 6 people aboard, including Pawar, 3 other passengers, and 2 crew members.

“The news of the death of several people, including Maharashtra's Deputy Chief Minister Shri Ajit Pawar, in a plane crash in Baramati, Maharashtra, is extremely tragic. The untimely demise of Ajit Pawar ji is an irreparable loss. He will always be remembered for his special contribution to the development of Maharashtra, especially in the cooperative sector. I express my deep condolences to his family, supporters, and admirers. May God grant strength to the families of all others who lost their lives in this accident to bear this blow,” wrote President Murmu in a post on X.

Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar died after his plane crashed during landing in Baramati, the DGCA said. All six onboard were brought dead. Here’s a list of well-known Indians who died in plane or helicopter crashes over the years.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh pays tribute to Ajit Pawar following his death in a tragic plane crash in Baramati. “Deeply shocked and pained to learn about the untimely demise of Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister, Shri Ajit Pawar. Throughout his long public life, he remained committed to the development and prosperity of Maharashtra. He was known for his compassion for the people and his unwavering dedication to public service. I extend my heartfelt condolences to his family, well-wishers, and admirers,” he wrote on X.

PM Narendra Modi condoled death of Maharashtra Deputy CM on X stating, “Shri Ajit Pawar Ji was a leader of the people, having a strong grassroots level connect. He was widely respected as a hardworking personality at the forefront of serving the people of Maharashtra. His understanding of administrative matters and passion for empowering the poor and downtrodden were also noteworthy. His untimely demise is very shocking and saddening. Condolences to his family and countless admirers. Om Shanti.”

NCP working president Praful Patel, NCP-SCP MP Supriya Sule, and Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar's family - wife Sunetra Pawar and sons Parth Pawar and Jay Pawar are leaving for Baramati (Maharashtra) from Delhi.

Uttar Pradesh Dy CM Brajesh Pathak says, "We are getting really sad news about Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar. I pray that God gives strength to his family members and party members at this time. We stand with his family during this hour."

On Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar's death in a charter plane crash, DMK MP T Siva says," It is very sad. I have no words to express the grief. He was such a dynamic politician."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah both contacted Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadanvis and received information and updates about the Baramati plane crash.

On Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar's death in a charter plane crash in Baramati, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Arvind Sawant says," I always did what he said. He was a bold man. He had a big role in the development of the Baramati region. I express my condolences to the entire Pawar family."

Revolutionary Socialist Party MP N.K. Premachandran says, "It is very unfortunate to hear that such an accident has taken place. We are not aware of the details, so let us wait for the report and see what has actually happened. It is really shocking and very unfortunate. Deputy CM and his team were travelling in the plane and this has happened. That has to be investigated, let us wait for the report."

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi says, "This is very shocking, painful and heart-rending. There have been differences between us, but we have worked together. He was a really committed man who kept to his work. I express my sympathies to Pawar sahab, Supriya ji, Sunetra ji, Parth and Jay. I also express sympathies to lakhs and crores of people in Baramati...Going away like this is very painful..."

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation has confirmed that Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar is no more after his plane crashed in Maharashtra's Baramati earlier this morning. The DGCA has shared this as the interim report:

Occurrence report

Date: 28.01.2026 Operator: VSR

Aircraft type: Learjet 45

Aircraft registration: VT-SSK

Location: Baramati airport

Personnel on board: 05 including crew

Details: Aircraft crash landed at Baramati.

Ajit Pawar, Dy. CM, Maharashtra was onboard along with 2 more personnel (1 PSO and 1 attendent) and 2 crew (PIC+FO) members.

Ajit Pawar, Deputy CM of Maharashtra, was onboard along with 2 more personnel (1 PSO and 1 attendant) and 2 crew (PIC+FO) members. As per initial information, no person on board has survived the crash: DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation)

Maharashtra deputy chief minister and NCP chief Ajit Pawar and five others on board died after an aircraft carrying them crashed in Baramati town of Pune district in Maharashtra on Wednesday morning.

Five people on board the Mumbai to Baramati charter plane, which crash landed, have died, said DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation), according to news agency ANI.

A chartered plane flying from Mumbai, Maharashtra, to Baramati crash-landed at 8.45 am on Wednesday morning. As per preliminary report, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Nationalist Congress Party chief Ajit Pawar was onboard the charter. Pawar was headed to Baramati to attend a public rally for the Zilla Parishad Elections.

Pawar was in Mumbai on Tuesday where he attended a meeting of the Maharashtra Cabinet Committee on Infrastructure chaired by CM Devendra Fadnavis. Maharashtra Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule, and concerned officials were present.