Heart-wrenching scenes unfolded in Baramati on Wednesday as Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar faction) MP Supriya Sule and Rajya Sabha MP Sunetra Pawar broke down while meeting family members following the tragic death of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in a plane crash.
A video shared by ANI showed the two leaders struggling to hold back tears as they arrived at Ajit Pawar’s residence after traveling from New Delhi. The atmosphere was heavy with grief as family members and close aides gathered to console each other.
Ajit Pawar Dies in Fatal Plane Crash While Heading to Baramati
Ajit Pawar, 66, was killed when his chartered Learjet 45 aircraft crashed at Baramati airport while attempting to land on Wednesday morning. The Deputy Chief Minister was traveling from Mumbai to Baramati to address multiple public rallies ahead of the February 5 Zilla Parishad elections.
According to officials, the aircraft took off from Mumbai at 8:10 am, disappeared from radar around 8:45 am, and crashed shortly after at 8:50 am. The crash triggered a massive fire, leaving the aircraft gutted by flames.
Ajit Pawar was among five people killed, including two pilots and a flight attendant.
Sharad Pawar En Route, Family and Party in Mourning
Veteran leader and NCP founder Sharad Pawar is currently en route to Baramati, according to sources. Shortly after the news broke, Supriya Sule expressed her grief in a WhatsApp status with a single word — “devastated” — reflecting the deep personal loss suffered by the Pawar family.
Ajit Pawar is survived by his wife Sunetra Pawar and their two sons, Parth Pawar and Jay Pawar.
A Political Giant With an Unmatched Legacy
Ajit Pawar was one of Maharashtra’s most influential and experienced leaders. He served as the state’s longest-serving Deputy Chief Minister, holding the post six times across different governments.
Over his long political career, he worked under chief ministers including Prithviraj Chavan, Devendra Fadnavis, Uddhav Thackeray, and Eknath Shinde. Known for his sharp administrative skills and deep grassroots connect, Pawar played a decisive role in Maharashtra’s political landscape for decades.
Nation Reacts: Leaders Express Shock and Grief
Prime Minister Narendra Modi described Ajit Pawar as a leader with a strong connection to the people and called his death “untimely and deeply shocking.”
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said the tragedy was unbelievable and that he had lost a close friend. Several political leaders across party lines expressed condolences, calling Pawar’s death a major loss to public life.
Investigation Underway
Superintendent of Police Sandip Singh Gill confirmed that a fire broke out immediately after the crash and that emergency teams rushed the injured to hospitals. Authorities have launched an investigation to determine the exact cause of the accident.