Ajit Pawar’s last flight: Plane crash that shook the nation

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and NCP leader Ajit Pawar died in a tragic plane crash on Wednesday morning during an attempted landing in Baramati, Pune district. The chartered aircraft carrying him reportedly caught fire and crashed near the runway while trying to land.

The chartered plane carrying Ajit Pawar was flying from Mumbai to Baramati when it crash-landed at around 8:45 am near Baramati airport in Maharashtra during the landing phase. Debris and wreckage were seen scattered across an open field at the site.

According to the DGCA, all five people onboard, including Ajit Pawar, two crew members, one PSO and one attendant, were killed in the crash. No survivors were reported from the Mumbai–Baramati chartered flight, officials said.

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Ajit Pawar was heading to Baramati to attend a public rally in connection with the upcoming Zilla Parishad elections. The visit was part of his political engagements in his home turf.

Local authorities and emergency services were deployed immediately after the crash. Rescue teams worked at the scene amid smoke and debris, managing the aftermath of the charter flight’s failed landing attempt.

Initial accounts suggest the aircraft caught fire after impact, worsening the damage and leaving little chance of survival for those onboard. Emergency teams rushed to control flames and secure the site.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and other agencies are expected to launch an inquiry into the cause of the crash, including whether technical failure, weather or other factors contributed to the tragedy.

Following reports of the crash and Pawar’s death, a wave of mourning was observed across Maharashtra, with political leaders and party members remembering his contributions and leadership in state politics.