Ajit Pawar, Maharashtra’s Longest-Serving Deputy CM, Dies in Plane Crash at 66
The veteran politician and NCP leader perished alongside four others when his chartered aircraft crashed during landing at Baramati Airport on Wednesday morning
Ajit Anantrao Pawar, Maharashtra’s longest-serving deputy chief minister and a towering figure in state politics, died on January 28, 2026, when his chartered plane crashed while attempting a second approach to Baramati Airport. He was 66 years old.
The Learjet 45 aircraft crashed at approximately 8:45 am local time, killing all five people on board, including two crew members and two staff members. Witnesses reported the aircraft exploded moments after hitting the ground. Pawar was traveling from Mumbai to attend public rallies for upcoming district council elections.
Born on July 22, 1959, Pawar followed in the footsteps of his uncle, veteran politician Sharad Pawar, entering politics in 1982. He built his political base through the grassroots cooperative movement and wielded considerable influence in the state’s sugar belt.
Pawar was elected to the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly seven times from the Baramati constituency, first winning in a 1991 by-election. He served as deputy chief minister an unprecedented six times under multiple chief ministers and across different political coalitions—a record that may never be matched.
In 2023, Pawar orchestrated a split within the Nationalist Congress Party by aligning with the BJP-led coalition. The Election Commission of India recognized his faction as the official NCP in February 2024. At the time of his death, he was serving as deputy chief minister alongside Eknath Shinde under Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
His political career was not without controversy. A 2013 statement during a drought drew widespread criticism when he asked whether he should “urinate into the dam” to address water shortages, later calling it the “biggest mistake of his life”.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi described Pawar’s death as “very shocking and saddening,” praising him as “widely respected as a hardworking personality”. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis declared three days of state mourning.
Pawar is survived by his wife Sunetra, a Rajya Sabha MP, and two sons, Parth and Jay. His death leaves a significant void in Maharashtra politics at a time when the state government faces critical challenges ahead.
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau has launched an investigation into the crash. The cause remains unknown.
