India was left stunned on Wednesday morning after reports confirmed that Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and senior Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Ajit Pawar died in a tragic plane crash near Baramati. The fatal incident occurred while the 66-year-old leader was travelling from Mumbai to Baramati to attend a series of political events ahead of upcoming local body elections.

According to preliminary information, the small aircraft carrying Ajit Pawar and four others crashed during its final approach while attempting to land at Baramati airport, leaving no survivors. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) later confirmed that all five people on board the aircraft died in the crash, including Pawar, two personnel, and two crew members.

Aircraft Crashes During Landing Attempt in Baramati

The aircraft involved in the crash was identified as a Learjet, a six- to eight-seater business jet with the registration number VT-SSK. Operated by a private company named VSR, the jet reportedly took off from Mumbai at around 8:10 am on Wednesday morning.

Air Traffic Control was alerted to the accident at approximately 9:12 am, shortly after the aircraft encountered trouble during its final descent. Preliminary reports suggest that the plane ran into difficulties while approaching the runway and crash-landed, triggering a massive fire on impact.

Visuals that surfaced across social media platforms showed charred wreckage of the aircraft engulfed in flames, with thick plumes of smoke rising from the crash site. Emergency services rushed to the spot, and ambulances were seen ferrying the injured to nearby hospitals. However, officials later confirmed that all passengers were brought dead.

Airport operations at Baramati were temporarily suspended following the crash, leading to delays in arriving and departing flights. Authorities cordoned off the area as rescue and recovery efforts were carried out.

DGCA Confirms No Survivors

The DGCA officially acknowledged the crash, stating that there were no survivors. In its preliminary statement, the aviation regulator confirmed that Ajit Pawar was travelling along with two other personnel and two crew members when the crash occurred.

Officials said a detailed investigation will be launched to determine the exact cause of the accident once recovery operations conclude and technical assessments are completed. A formal briefing is expected after the identities and casualties are fully verified.

#WATCH | Crash landing in Baramati | Five people onboard the Mumbai-Baramati charter plane, including Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, died as per initial information by the DGCA.

Visuals from the spot. pic.twitter.com/6MHqTi6gna— ANI (@ANI) January 28, 2026

Pawar Was Headed to Address Public Meetings

According to party sources, Ajit Pawar was scheduled to address four public meetings in Baramati on Wednesday as part of preparations for the upcoming Zilla Parishad and local body elections. His sudden death has cast a pall of gloom over the political landscape in Maharashtra, particularly in Baramati, which has long been regarded as the Pawar family’s political stronghold.

A close associate, Kiran Gujar, who was present at the local hospital, confirmed the fatalities, saying, “All six people including Ajit Pawar were brought dead.” However, at the time, officials had not yet issued a detailed public statement.

Prime Minister and Leaders React to the Tragedy

News of the crash prompted an immediate response from the highest levels of government. Prime Minister Narendra Modi reportedly called Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis soon after the incident came to light. Fadnavis is said to have cancelled his scheduled Konkan rally following the tragic development.

In a message posted on X (formerly Twitter), the Prime Minister described Pawar’s death as “shocking and saddening.”

“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,” Modi wrote.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah also expressed deep grief and is learnt to have left for Pune after receiving news of the crash. In his post, Shah said Pawar’s death was a personal loss.

“The way Ajit Pawar ji dedicated himself to the welfare of every section in Maharashtra cannot be described in words. His death is a personal loss for me,” he said.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said he was “deeply shocked and pained”, recalling Pawar’s lifelong commitment to public service and development in Maharashtra.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge termed the news “deeply shocking and profoundly distressing”, calling Pawar’s death an untimely loss of a leader who still had a long political journey ahead.

A Towering Political Career Cut Short

Ajit Pawar, the nephew of veteran politician and NCP founder Sharad Pawar, was one of the most influential figures in Maharashtra politics. He served as Deputy Chief Minister under four different Chief Ministers — Prithviraj Chavan, Uddhav Thackeray, Eknath Shinde, and Devendra Fadnavis — a rare distinction reflecting his political clout and adaptability.

In 2023, Pawar led a dramatic split in the NCP, breaking away from the faction led by his uncle Sharad Pawar and later aligning with the NDA government. Despite the political upheaval, recent months had seen talks of reconciliation, with both NCP factions contesting the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation elections together.

Sharad Pawar and Lok Sabha MP Supriya Sule, who were in Delhi for Parliament’s budget session, are expected to return to Pune following the tragedy.

Ajit Pawar is survived by his wife Sunetra Pawar and sons Parth and Jay.

Ajit Pawar’s Net Worth and Financial Legacy

Following his death, public attention has once again turned to Ajit Pawar’s financial profile, as declared in his election affidavit. According to available records, Pawar had assets worth approximately ₹124 crore, placing him among the wealthiest politicians in Maharashtra. He also declared liabilities of around ₹21.39 crore, including loans and other financial commitments.

Residential Properties

A major portion of Pawar’s wealth was tied to real estate. He reportedly owned four residential properties, including:

• Two houses valued at approximately ₹3 crore each

• One property worth nearly ₹2 crore

• Another residential unit valued at around ₹90 lakh

His wife, Sunetra Pawar, owns four flats with a combined value exceeding ₹22 crore.

Land and Commercial Assets

According to the affidavit, Ajit Pawar and his wife jointly owned agricultural land valued at ₹13.21 crore. In addition, they possessed non-agricultural land worth nearly ₹37 crore and a commercial building valued at over ₹11 crore.

Vehicles and Luxury Assets

Pawar’s vehicle collection included three trailers, a Toyota Camry, a Honda CR-V, and a tractor, with a combined value of approximately ₹75 lakh. His wife owned vehicles worth around ₹10 lakh.

Investments, Jewellery and Savings

Ajit Pawar had invested ₹24 lakh in shares, bonds, and debentures, while his wife and children had investments of ₹15 lakh each. The family also held gold and silver jewellery, with Pawar’s personal collection valued at ₹38 lakh, and Sunetra Pawar’s jewellery worth over ₹1.19 crore.

The affidavit further revealed cash holdings of ₹14.12 lakh, combined bank deposits exceeding ₹6.81 crore, and investments worth ₹1.52 crore in NSS and postal savings schemes. Notably, the family did not hold any life insurance policies.

Nation Awaits Official Briefing

As investigations continue, authorities are expected to issue a detailed official briefing once all procedures are completed. Meanwhile, Maharashtra and the nation at large continue to mourn the sudden and tragic loss of one of the state’s most influential political leaders.

The death of Ajit Pawar marks the end of an era in Maharashtra politics—one defined by ambition, controversy, administrative influence, and an enduring connection with the grassroots.

With inputs from agencies

Image Source: Multiple agencies

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