Ajit Pawar Plane Crash Live Updates: Sharad Pawar Says Death Was Pure Accident; PM Modi, Amit Shah Likely To Attend Funeral Tomorrow

Fresh CCTV footage has emerged showing the Learjet 45 carrying Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and four others sharply tilting to the left seconds before it crashed near Baramati airport on Wednesday morning. The visuals show the aircraft descending quickly and rolling close to the ground. Aviation experts quoted in reports said such movement is unusual during landing and may point to a technical issue or pilots responding to sudden stress on the aircraft.

In a statement, Bombardier expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy and conveyed its sympathies to those impacted. The company said it would await the outcome of the investigation before commenting on the cause and pledged support to investigating agencies.

On an urgent request from the Maharashtra government, the Indian Air Force deployed a team of Air Traffic Control personnel from Air Force Station Lohegaon to Baramati airport along with key technical equipment. Defence officials said the team quickly set up emergency ATC services, including communication and safety facilities, in coordination with the local administration to ensure smooth and safe air traffic operations.

Nationalist Congress Party (SP) chief Sharad Pawar, uncle of the late Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, ruled out any conspiracy behind his death. Calling it a major loss for the state, Pawar said Maharashtra had lost a dynamic and decisive leader. He dismissed claims of political motives, stating that the incident was an accident and politics should not be linked to the tragedy.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said he had visited Baramati earlier when Supriya Sule was the Lok Sabha MP and recalled that Ajit Pawar was widely popular in the constituency, having won from Baramati several times. Calling his death a major loss to the nation, Siddaramaiah said Ajit Pawar had worked closely with Sharad Pawar in the Nationalist Congress Party, later joined the Bharatiya Janata Party and eventually reconciled. He expressed condolences to the family and prayed for strength and peace.

The mortal remains of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar are being taken from Baramati hospital and will be kept at Vidya Pratishthan ground for the public to pay their last respects.

No Politics Involved, Says Sharad Pawar, Calling Ajit Pawar’s Plane Crash Death a Pure Accident

On an urgent request from the Maharashtra government, the Indian Air Force deployed a team of Air Traffic Control personnel to Baramati Airport from Air Force Station Lohegaon. Defence officials said the team carried key technical equipment and quickly set up emergency air traffic control services. These included communication systems and other essential facilities. The arrangements were made in coordination with the local administration to ensure smooth and safe management of air traffic during the emergency situation at the airport.

Pawar is survived by his wife Sunetra, a Rajya Sabha member, and his two sons, Parth and Jay.

Maharashtra Governor Acharya Devvrat, along with Nationalist Congress Party (SP) chief Sharad Pawar and NCP working president Praful Patel, arrived at Vidya Pratishthan in Baramati on Wednesday to pay their last respects to late Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar. Maharashtra NCP president Sunil Tatkare and State Minister Hasan Mushrif were also present at the venue.

The state government announced a public holiday on Wednesday and declared three days of state mourning.

The last rites of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar will be held with full state honours on Thursday at Vidya Pratishthan ground in Baramati at 11 AM. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah are expected to attend.

Following Ajit Pawar's death, Chief Minister Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde arrived in Baramati on Wednesday evening.

On the demise of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge said, "We will demand an inquiry into this accident. This is a very sad incident. Ajit Pawar died untimely. We are all shocked by his passing."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Ajit Pawar's uncle and NCP-SP Chief Sharad Pawar and offered his condolences. Sharad Pawar arrived in Baramati a short while ago.

NCP supporters gathered in large numbers outside the Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Holkar Government Medical College in Baramati with the picture of their party chief and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar.

NCP-SCP MP Supriya Sule and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar's wife and Rajya Sabha MP Sunetra Pawar have also reached Baramati. The Pawar family is in mourning following Ajit Pawar's death. After meeting the Pawar family, Supriya Sule broke down in tears.

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar’s last are expected to be held at 11 am on January 29 at Vidya Pratishthan ground in Baramati.

Union Minister of Civil Aviation Ram Mohan Naidu said that low visibility was likely the cause of the crash as per preliminary investigation.

“We will conduct an investigation in a transparent and accountable manner. Preliminary information indicates that visibility was poor at the site at the time of landing around 8:48 am. Before landing, ATC asked the pilot whether the runway was in sight, and he confirmed it was not. After a go-around, the aircraft returned to land, and the pilot was again asked if the runway was visible for landing. Then, the pilot confirmed visibility of the runway. After ATC cleared landing, it was seen that the accident had occurred”, Ram Mohan Naidu said.

According to the Maharashtra General Administration Department (Protocol), the last rites of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar will be conducted with full state honours. A three-day state mourning has been declared in Maharashtra following the Deputy CM's demise. All government offices in Maharashtra will remain closed during this time.

The BJP lashed out on West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday over her demand for a Supreme Court-monitored probe into the Baramati crash, claiming foul play. The BJP said, "Such vulture- like behaviour is avoidable in this hour of tragedy."

What's Closed: 

All state government offices, schools, and colleges across Maharashtra are closed today, Wednesday, January 28.

During the three-day mourning period, there will be no official entertainment events.

The National Flag will be flown at half-mast until the conclusion of the mourning period on Friday, January 28.

What's Open: 

Essential services will continue to operate as usual during the three-day state mourning. These include:

- Emergency Healthcare Services: Ambulances, Hospitals

- Public transport: Railways, Buses

- Shops, Market And Retail Stores

Expressing his condolences over the tragic demise of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, BJP National President Nitin Nabin said, “Ajit Pawar was the son of Maharashtra. Today, the entire political world is saddened by his demise. We express our sympathies to his family.”

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said, "He was a leader connected to the ground. The passing of Ajit Dada Pawar is deeply saddening. There is grief in his family and among all of us. He was a strong and generous friend. This is a difficult day for the state. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah have spoken to us regarding this accident." 

The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) dispatched a team from Delhi to Baramati on Wednesday to launch a formal probe into the tragic crash involving Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, according to a statement from the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA).

The Maharashtra government has announced a three-day state mourning and a public holiday for today to honour Pawar's contributions to the state and its people. 

The aircraft, Learjet 45 operated by VSR Ventures, departed Mumbai at 8:10 AM and was carrying Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister to Baramati, where he was scheduled to address four election rallies ahead of the upcoming local body elections.

Data from the flight-tracking website Flightradar24 showed that the pilot attempted an initial landing at 8:30 AM but was forced to abort due to poor visibility. At 8:42 AM, flight logs show the aircraft was making a second approach at Baramati Airport when it reportedly lost control. The flight vanished from radar at 8:45 AM, crashing near the runway and bursting into flames within seconds.

- Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar was travelling from Mumbai to Baramati to address four public meetings ahead of the upcoming Zilla Parishad elections when the plane crashed while landing at Baramati Airport.

- All five on board, including Pawar, a personal security officer, an attendant, and two crew members, died in the accident.

- According to the data from the flight-tracking website Flightradar24, the aircraft was allegedly attempting a second approach at Baramati Airport when it lost control and crashed, bursting into flames within seconds.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said, "The news of the tragic demise of Shri Ajit Pawar, in a plane crash, is deeply shocking and profoundly distressing. It is an untimely loss of a leader who had a long and promising political career ahead. No words can adequately express the immense grief that the bereaved family must be enduring during this difficult hour. I extend my deepest condolences to the entire Pawar family, his supporters and well-wishers. Having served the people of Maharashtra in various constitutional capacities, Shri Ajit Pawar shall be remembered as a seasoned politician who discharged his responsibilities towards his people with sincerity and astuteness. May his soul rest in peace."

On the tragic demise of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde says," It is an unfortunate day for Maharashtra. This is a painful incident for su and whole of Maharashtra. Ajit Dada was a man of his word. We worked as a team when I was the CM, and he was Dy CM. As team we had started the Ladli Behen Yojana, and Ajit dada played an important role in it.."

Maharashtra Chief Minister  Devendra Fadnavis announced he is travelling to Baramati to contact Ajit Pawar’s family before deciding the next steps. In honour of the late leader, the Chief Minister declared a three-day period of state mourning and a public holiday for today.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said, "The news of the demise of Maharashtra's Deputy Chief Minister Shri Ajit Pawar Ji and his fellow travellers in an airplane accident today is extremely heartbreaking. In this moment of grief, I stand with the people of Maharashtra. I extend my condolences to the entire Pawar family and their loved ones during this hour of sorrow."

According to Flightradar24, the flight carrying Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister departed Mumbai at 8:10 AM and remained in the air for approximately 35 minutes before disappearing from radar at 8:45 AM.

The crash reportedly occurred when the plane was attempting a second approach to land at Baramati Airport. The plane crashed at 8:50 AM.

NCP leader and Ajit Pawar’s cousin, Supriya Sule, expressed shock over the tragic demise of the Maharashtra deputy chief minister. Political leaders across party lines expressed grief over the death of Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar. 

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday said, "Deeply shocked and pained to learn about the untimely demise of Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister, Shri Ajit Pawar. Throughout his long public life, he remained committed to the development and prosperity of Maharashtra. He was known for his compassion for the people and his unwavering dedication to public service. I extend my heartfelt condolences to his family, well-wishers, and admirers."

Speaking to news agency ANI, an eyewitness said, "I saw it with my eyes. This is really painful. When the aircraft descended, it seemed it would crash, and it did crash. It then exploded. There was a massive explosion. After that, we rushed here and saw that the aircraft was on fire. There were 4-5 explosions in the aircraft again. More people came here, and they tried to pull the people out (of the aircraft). But since this was a huge fire, people could not help. Ajit Pawar was onboard and this is really painful for us. I can't describe it in words..."

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Union Home Minister Amit Shah said, "Today, the news of the loss of Maharashtra's Deputy Chief Minister and our senior NDA colleague Ajit Pawar ji in a tragic accident has left my heart deeply distressed. The way Ajit Pawar ji dedicated himself to the welfare of every section of society in Maharashtra over the past three and a half decades cannot be expressed in words. Whenever we met, he would engage in long discussions on numerous issues related to the welfare of the people of Maharashtra. His passing is a personal loss not only for the NDA family but also for me. I express my deepest condolences to the Pawar family. In this hour of grief, the entire NDA stands firmly with the bereaved Pawar family. May God grant the departed soul a place at His divine feet. Om Shanti Shanti Shanti."

Ajit Pawar was a key figure in Maharashtra politics, known for shaping the state’s political landscape over the past decades. Born on July 22, 1959, he was the nephew of Sharad Pawar, the founder of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) confirmed that there were no survivors in the crash. Among the victims were Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, along with two more personnel (1 PSO and 1 attendant) and two crew (PIC+FO) members.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote, “Shri Ajit Pawar Ji was a leader of the people, having a strong grassroots level connect. He was widely respected as a hardworking personality at the forefront of serving the people of Maharashtra. His understanding of administrative matters and passion for empowering the poor and downtrodden were also noteworthy. His untimely demise is very shocking and saddening. Condolences to his family and countless admirers. Om Shanti.” 

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and four others were killed on Wednesday morning after a chartered Learjet 45 crashed during a landing attempt at Baramati Airport. The DGCA confirmed that all five individuals on board died in the accident, which occurred around 8:45 AM.

Expressing grief over the tragic demise of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Arvind Sawant said, "The sad and tragic news of the demise of our state’s Maharashtra finance minister, Ajit Pawar, has left us deeply pained. I came into closer contact with him. We would meet and talk often, and one of his most distinctive qualities was that he always kept his word."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday called Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to inquire about the details of the fatal plane crash that claimed the life of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), BJP leader Sudhakar K said, "Extremely shocked and saddened by the tragic news of the passing of Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar ji in a plane crash. My heartfelt condolences to the Pawar family, his supporters and the people of Maharashtra.Om Shanti."

Visuals from the scene showed the aircraft's wreckage strewn across the landing area with thick, black smoke and flames billowing into the sky.

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and four others were killed after their aircraft crashed in Pune’s Baramati area on Wednesday morning.