January 28, 2026 – Pune : Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Ajit Pawar passed away this morning following a tragic aircraft accident in Baramati. The 66 year old d leader was traveling from Mumbai to his home turf for a scheduled public rally ahead of the Zilla Parishad elections when the incident occurred around 8:45 AM.
The aircraft, a Learjet 45 with registration VT-SSK operated by VSR, reportedly encountered difficulties while attempting to land at Baramati airport. According to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the plane veered off the side of the runway during its second approach and burst into flames upon impact. Emergency responders and local villagers rushed to the site, but the intensity of the fire prevented any immediate rescue attempts.
Officials have confirmed that there were no survivors among the five individuals on board. In addition to Pawar, the deceased include his personal security officer Vidhit Jadhav, attendant Pinky Mali, and two crew members, pilots Sumit Kapoor and Shambhavi Pathak. Local authorities have since recovered all remains from the wreckage for hospital transport.
The sudden demise of the veteran leader, known affectionately as “Dada,” has sent shockwaves through the political fraternity. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed profound grief, describing Pawar as a leader of the people with a deep grassroots connection. Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde also shared moving tributes, with Shinde noting that he had lost an “elder brother” who possessed an unparalleled command over state administration.
Pawar’s political journey spanned over four decades, during which he served as Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister for a record six terms. He is survived by his wife, Sunetra Pawar, and their two sons, Jay and Parth.
The entire team at https://thetruthschronicle.com/ extends its deepest condolences to the Pawar family and the people of Maharashtra on this irreparable loss.
