Maharashtra Dy CM Ajit Pawar, five others killed in plane crash in Pune

New Delhi: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and others on board were killed when the chartered aircraft they were travelling in crash-landed at Baramati airport on the morning of January 28, 2026, officials said.

The plane was attempting to land at around 8:45 AM after departing from Mumbai, according to early reports from aviation sources and state officials.

It veered off the runway during the approach, with visuals from the site showing wreckage near the landing strip and smoke at the scene.

Initial confirmations indicate that Pawar and several others on board died in the accident.

Authorities said emergency responders, including local police and fire services, reached the crash site and pulled victims from the wreckage before they were taken to nearby medical facilities.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and other aviation authorities are expected to conduct a detailed investigation into the cause of the crash, which may involve technical factors during the landing phase.

Ajit Pawar, a senior leader of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and nephew of veteran politician Sharad Pawar, served as Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister and was a prominent figure in state governance.

His sudden death is already reverberating across political circles in the state and nation.

At this stage, official statements from the Maharashtra government, DGCA and local administration are awaited for more details on casualties and the ongoing probe.

NewsDrum will continue to update this story as more verified information becomes available. Readers are urged to follow updates from official and credible news sources.