Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Ajit Pawar died on 28 January 2026 after the Learjet 45 aircraft he was traveling in crashed during an attempted landing at Baramati airport in Pune district. All five people on board — including Pawar, two crew members and two security personnel — were killed when the plane burst into flames near the runway.
The 66-year-old politician was on his way to Baramati to address a series of public meetings ahead of the upcoming Zilla Parishad elections when the accident occurred. Eyewitnesses reported the aircraft lost control as it approached the runway and went up in a fireball shortly after touching down. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has confirmed the crash and a probe has been ordered.
Ajit Pawar was a seasoned figure in Maharashtra politics and a prominent leader of the NCP. He rose through the ranks in the influential Pawar political family, carving a distinct identity separate from his uncle, veteran politician Sharad Pawar, after leading a factional split and joining the Mahayuti alliance with the BJP and Shiv Sena in 2023.
Pawar was widely respected for his long service and administrative experience, having served multiple terms as Deputy Chief Minister and held key portfolios including finance, water resources, energy and rural development. Known affectionately as “Dada”, he was credited with strong grassroots connections and a hands-on approach to governance.
The tragedy has triggered an outpouring of grief across political lines. Maharashtra announced three days of state mourning, and leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and opposition figures expressed condolences, recognizing Pawar’s decades-long contribution to public life.
As Maharashtra reels from this sudden loss, questions are emerging about the future of the NCP faction he led and wider political implications for the state’s ruling coalition, given Pawar’s central role in alliance negotiations and governance.
