Summary (tl;dr)

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and four other individuals died on January 28, 2026, when their chartered Learjet 45 aircraft crashed during a landing attempt at Baramati Airport.

Essential Background

Ajit Pawar was a prominent Indian politician who served multiple terms as the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra. He was the nephew of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) founder Sharad Pawar and had a significant political career, notably leading a major split in the NCP in 2023 to join the BJP-Shiv Sena coalition government in Maharashtra.

The Full Story

On Wednesday morning, January 28, 2026, a Learjet 45 business jet carrying Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, a personal security officer, an attendant, and two flight crew members crashed near the runway threshold while attempting to land at Baramati Airport in Pune district, Maharashtra. The aircraft, which had departed from Mumbai for a planned political event, burst into flames upon impact, killing all five people on board. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) confirmed there were no survivors. Initial reports indicate poor visibility near the runway during the landing attempt, and the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has dispatched a team from Delhi to investigate the crash site. The Learjet 45 was operated by Delhi-based VSR Ventures Pvt Ltd, whose aircraft had been involved in a previous crash in Mumbai in 2023.

Why It Matters

The tragic and sudden death of Ajit Pawar, a key political figure often referred to as 'Dada,' has sent shockwaves through Maharashtra's political landscape, with the state declaring a public holiday and three days of mourning. His demise creates a significant void in state leadership, especially given his central role in the recent split of the Nationalist Congress Party and ongoing speculation about a potential reconciliation with his uncle, Sharad Pawar. The incident also raises serious concerns about aviation safety standards, particularly as the operating company's aircraft had a history of prior accidents. Political leaders across India, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, have expressed condolences.

Geographic Location

• Baramati Airport, Baramati, Pune district, Maharashtra, India (site of the plane crash and fatalities)
• Mumbai, Mumbai Suburban district, Maharashtra, India (departure location of the crashed Learjet 45)
• Delhi, National Capital Territory of Delhi, India (headquarters of VSR Ventures Pvt Ltd and origin of the AAIB investigation team)