Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar killed in plane crash in Pune

Ajit Pawar, the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra and leader of the NCP, tragically lost his life in a plane crash this morning. He was traveling from Mumbai to Baramati when the accident occurred. Alongside him, four others, including the pilots and Pawar’s security staff, also perished in the incident. The small plane took off from Mumbai at around 8 am and crashed near Baramati airport while trying to land about 45 minutes later. Reports indicate that Pawar was scheduled to attend four significant public meetings in preparation for the local body elections. Images from the crash site show flames, smoke, and the wreckage of the aircraft, with ambulances hurrying to transport the injured to local hospitals. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation confirmed that all five individuals on board lost their lives. Ajit Pawar, 66, was the nephew of veteran politician and NCP founder Sharad Pawar and the cousin of Lok Sabha MP Supriya Sule. Both Sharad Pawar and Sule, who are currently in Delhi for the Parliament's budget session, plan to travel to Pune soon. In 2023, Ajit Pawar led a split within the NCP, dividing it into two groups: one under his leadership and the other led by Sharad Pawar. He later joined the NDA government and became Deputy Chief Minister. Recently, discussions about reuniting the NCP had surfaced, and both factions participated together in the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation elections. As of now, the NCP leadership, the Pawar family, and the Maharashtra government have not made any statements regarding this tragic event. The flight was a Learjet 45 operated by a company named VSR. Notably, another aircraft of the same model had crashed in September 2023 in Mumbai.