PUNE — Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and four other persons were killed after an aircraft carrying them crashed in Pune district on Wednesday morning, officials said.
The incident occurred when the plane carrying Pawar (66) and others landed near Baramati, they said.
According to Flight Radar, the flight took off from Mumbai at 8.10 am and it disappeared from radar around 8.45 am.
Pawar was traveling to Baramati from Mumbai to address public meetings as part of the campaign for the February 5 zilla parishad elections in the state.
There were five people on board when the aircraft crashed at 8.50 am, a police official said.
Superintendent of Police, Sandip Singh Gill, said that after the crash, there was a fire. “People onboard were immediately taken to the hospital,” he said.
A source told PTI that the aircraft pilot had mentioned about poor visibility near the runway, before the aircraft attempted the landing.
The Learjet 45 (LJ45), a mid-size business jet aircraft produced by the Learjet Division of Bombardier Aerospace, went off the runway while attempting to land at Baramati airport and burst into flames, the source said.
Pawar is survived by wife Sunetra, a member of Rajya Sabha and two sons, Parth and Jay.
Pawar’s Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) had contested the recent municipal corporation elections in Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad in alliance with his uncle Sharad Pawar’s NCP (SP).
Pawar’s Demise Very Shocking: PM Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said the death of Maharasthra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar in a plane crash was untimely and very shocking.
In a post on X, Modi said Ajit Pawar was a leader of the people with a strong grassroots level connect.
“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,” Modi said.
Pawar Will Be Remembered For His Special Contribution To Development of Maharashtra: President
President Droupadi Murmu on Wednesday condoled the demise of Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar in a plane crash, saying his untimely death is an irreparable loss.
In a post on X, she said Pawar will always be remembered for his special contribution to the development of Maharashtra, especially in the cooperative sector.
“The news of the death of several people, including Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister Shri Ajit Pawar, in a plane crash in Baramati, Maharashtra, is extremely tragic. The untimely demise of Ajit Pawar ji is an irreparable loss,” she said in the post in Hindi.
Murmu expressed deep condolences to his family, supporters, and admirers.
“May God grant strength to the families of all others who lost their lives in this accident to bear this blow,” the President said.
Deeply Shocked, Stunned By Pawar’s Death: Mamata
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday expressed shock over the death of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in a plane crash in Pune district.
She also called for proper investigation into the incident.
“Deeply shocked and stunned by the suddden demise of Ajit Pawar! The Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra and his co-passengers have died in a disastrous plane crash at Baramati today morning, and I am feeling a deep sense of loss. My condolences to his family including his uncle Sharad Pawar ji, and late Ajitji’s all friends and followers,” Banerjee said in a post on X.
“The incident needs proper investigation,” she added. — (PTI)