A routine political journey ended in tragedy on Wednesday when a privately operated aircraft carrying Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and four others crashed into an open field in western India, killing everyone on board.
The mid-size Learjet 45 had departed from Mumbai, India’s financial capital, bound for Baramati, Pawar’s hometown and political base, where he was scheduled to campaign ahead of a local election.
On board were Pawar, two members of his personal staff, and two crew members—individuals accustomed to frequent travel across the vast western Indian state for official and political engagements.
For those aboard the aircraft, the trip was expected to be brief and familiar.
Baramati, located about 159 miles from Mumbai, has long been central to Pawar’s political identity.
The deputy chief minister, 66, was returning to the heart of Maharashtra’s sugar belt, where he commanded deep loyalty and wielded significant influence among rural voters.
Instead, the journey was cut short when the aircraft crash-landed in an open field and burst into flames. Aviation authorities confirmed there were no survivors.
Television footage later showed thick smoke rising from the wreckage, underscoring the violence of the impact and the absence of any chance of escape for those inside.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation, in an initial statement, confirmed that all five occupants of the aircraft had died.
The cause of the crash was not immediately known, and investigators were expected to examine flight data and wreckage to determine what went wrong during the final moments of the flight.
Pawar’s aides travelling with him were part of a close-knit team that had worked alongside the veteran politician through years of campaigns, negotiations, and administrative duties.
The two crew members, whose role was to ensure the safe passage of their passengers, were also among the dead, highlighting the shared fate of everyone aboard.
As news of the crash spread, shock rippled through Maharashtra’s political establishment. Pawar was a key figure in the state government and served as the second-highest elected official as part of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ruling coalition in Maharashtra.
Prime Minister Modi expressed his condolences, describing Pawar as a dedicated leader. “His understanding of administrative matters and passion for empowering the poor and downtrodden were also noteworthy,” Modi said on X.
“His untimely demise is very shocking and saddening. Condolences to his family and countless admirers.”
For those on board the ill-fated flight, what began as another chapter in public service ended as a sudden and devastating loss, leaving families, colleagues, and a state to mourn together.
Leave a Reply