Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and NCP chief Ajit Pawar, two personal assistants, two pilots and one NCP worker were killed on Wednesday morning after their charter plane crashed during an emergency landing attempt in Baramati. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) confirmed that six people were on board at the time of the incident. The cause of the plane crash is yet to be known.
According to CNN-News18, the charter flight took off from Mumbai at 8:12 am, and Air Traffic Control (ATC) received alerts about a crash at around 9:12 am. Baramati airport manager Shivaji Taware told Hindustan Times that the aircraft VT SSK veered off the runway during the landing attempt and exploded on impact. He added it was a Learjet 45 and had been chartered from Mumbai.
Parliamentarians across party lines expressed shock and sorrow at the news of the crash.
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi described the accident as “shocking, painful, and deeply 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….”
#WATCH | 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,… https://t.co/ZwkKypdSi1 pic.twitter.com/wbB0iEj9ey
— ANI (@ANI) January 28, 2026
Samajwadi Party MP Ram Gopal Yadav called the news “very sad” and prayed for divine protection for the victims and their families.
VIDEO | After Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and five others were killed in an aircraft crash, Samajwadi Party MP Ram Gopal Yadav says, “This is very sad news. May God protect them.” pic.twitter.com/kuohw7EN8z
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) January 28, 2026
Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy told ANI that it is a “shocking” incident. “It is very shocking and sad news. I express my condolences to his family.”
#WATCH | Delhi | On Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar’s death in a charter plane crash, Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy says,” It is very shocking and sad news. I express my condolences to his family.” pic.twitter.com/4KH8eFfK4j
— ANI (@ANI) January 28, 2026
PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti shared a post on X (formerly Twitter) on the plane crash. “Deeply shocked & saddened by reports of a tragic private plane crash claiming the life of Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar along with others. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. May the departed souls rest in peace.” DMK MP T Siva says,” It is very sad. I have no words to express the grief. He was such a dynamic politician.” “Extremely shocked and saddened by the tragic news of the passing of Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar ji in a plane crash,” Dr Sudhakar K said after the plane crash. He added, “My heartfelt condolences to the Pawar family, his supporters and the people of Maharashtra.” Congress MP Pramod Tiwari told reporters that from the visuals it appears to be a “serious plane crash”. He added, “Media reports suggest Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar was on board this plane.”
