Ajit Pawar, the deputy chief minister of Maharashtra, dies in an aircraft accident

MUMBAI: According to Indian media, a tiny plane crashed Wednesday while trying to land at Baramati airport, killing five persons, including Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar.

The incident took place in the Maharashtra state’s Baramati city, which is in the Pune area.

Pawar was slated to speak at four electoral rallies while on a trip of Baramati city.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) in India verified that the crash claimed the lives of all five occupants of the aircraft. The two pilots of the airplane and the security staff of the Deputy Chief Minister were among the dead. The identities and specifics of the remaining victims are yet unknown.

The tragedy happened when the plane crashed while trying to land at the airport. To find out what caused the tragedy, Indian officials have started an inquiry.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis was questioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah on the event. The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) was led by 66-year-old Ajit Pawar.

This tragedy is the latest in a string of aviation mishaps that have occurred in India. Thirty seconds after taking off from Ahmedabad, Air India Flight 171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, crashed on June 12, 2025, killing 260 passengers and leaving one survivor.

Another incident occurred in November 2025 when the pilot of an Indian Air Force (IAF) HAL Tejas fighter jet was killed when the aircraft crashed during an airborne display at the Dubai Air Show. At Al Maktoum International Airport, the plane crashed down while making a maneuver for onlookers.