Deputy Maharashtra chief minister killed in private plane crash in western India

A privately operated aircraft carrying Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar crashed in an open field in western India on Wednesday, killing all five people on board, according to India’s aviation authorities. There were no survivors.

The mid-size Learjet 45 was travelling from Mumbai to Pawar’s home city of Baramati when it went down about 254 kilometres from the financial capital. Television footage aired nationally showed flames and heavy smoke rising from the wreckage. The cause of the crash was not immediately known, and an investigation has been launched by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation.

Pawar, 66, was en route to Baramati to campaign in a local election. Two members of his staff and two flight crew members were also killed, aviation officials confirmed in an initial statement.

A senior figure in Maharashtra politics, Pawar served as the second-highest elected official in the state as part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ruling coalition. He was considered a powerful political organizer, particularly in the state’s sugar-producing regions, and was known for mobilizing rural voters.

Prime Minister Modi expressed condolences, describing Pawar as a dedicated public servant with a strong grasp of administration and a commitment to social uplift. Messages of sympathy also poured in from political leaders across party lines, highlighting Pawar’s influence on state politics and governance.

The crash has renewed attention in India on aviation safety oversight for privately operated aircraft, particularly those used for political travel during election periods.