Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar Killed in Devastating Baramati Plane Crash
A tragic plane crash near Baramati airport in Pune district on Wednesday morning has claimed the life of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and four others, sending shockwaves across the state and the nation. Eyewitnesses to the disaster have recounted harrowing scenes of repeated explosions, raging flames, and desperate but futile attempts to rescue those trapped inside the wreckage.
Eyewitness Recalls Horror of Explosions and Uncontrollable Blaze
An eyewitness who saw the crash unfold described the aircraft appearing unstable during its descent before it slammed into the ground and erupted into a massive fireball. According to the witness, a series of explosions followed the initial impact, creating a situation where immediate rescue was impossible.
"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 four to five 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," the eyewitness told news agency ANI.
The small charter aircraft had departed from Mumbai around 8 am and crashed during a landing attempt approximately 45 minutes later. Visuals from the site showed thick plumes of black smoke and intense flames completely engulfing the wreckage, underscoring the catastrophic nature of the accident. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation later confirmed that all five passengers on board had perished.
Final Journey to Baramati Cut Short by Tragedy
Ajit Pawar was traveling to his political stronghold of Baramati to address a public rally connected to the Zilla Parishad elections when the accident occurred. Just a day earlier, on January 27, he had been in Mumbai attending a meeting of the Maharashtra Cabinet Committee on Infrastructure, chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. Maharashtra minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule and several senior officials were also present at that meeting.
Most Members of Parliament were in New Delhi on Wednesday to attend the opening of the Budget Session of Parliament when the devastating news of the crash broke, adding to the sense of shock and disbelief.
Political Leaders Express Profound Grief and Shock
Tributes and expressions of grief poured in from across the political spectrum as news of Pawar's untimely death spread. Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Arvind Sawant described the loss as deeply painful, stating that the entire Pawar family was shattered by the tragedy.
"It is very sad news. I always did what he said. He was a bold man. He had a big role in the development of the Baramati region. I express my condolences to the entire Pawar family," Sawant said.
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi also spoke emotionally about Pawar's passing, acknowledging their political differences while praising his commitment to public service.
"This is very shocking, painful and heart-rending. There have been differences between us, but we have worked together. He was a really committed man who kept to his work. I express my sympathies to Pawar sahab, Supriya ji, Sunetra ji, Parth and Jay. I also express sympathies to lakhs and crores of people in Baramati. Going away like this is very painful," Chaturvedi said.
A Towering Political Figure in Maharashtra Politics
Ajit Pawar, 66, was a formidable political force in Maharashtra, serving as the nephew of veteran leader Sharad Pawar and cousin of Lok Sabha MP Supriya Sule. He held the distinction of being the longest-serving Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra in non-consecutive terms, having occupied the office six times under various governments.
Throughout his illustrious career, he served as deputy chief minister in cabinets led by:
- Prithviraj Chavan
- Devendra Fadnavis
- Uddhav Thackeray
- Eknath Shinde
This remarkable political longevity reflected his enduring influence and strategic importance in the state's complex political landscape. He is survived by his wife, Sunetra Pawar, and their two sons, Jay and Parth Pawar.
Investigation Underway as Maharashtra Mourns
Authorities have launched a comprehensive investigation into the cause of the crash, with particular focus on the reported explosions and the intensity of the post-impact fire. For the residents of Baramati and people across Maharashtra, however, the immediate focus remains on mourning a leader whose final journey ended in unimaginable tragedy. The haunting accounts of eyewitnesses who saw the disaster unfold at close quarters will likely linger in public memory for years to come.
The state has lost not just a deputy chief minister, but a political stalwart whose career spanned decades and whose influence touched countless aspects of Maharashtra's development and governance.
