Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar Killed in Tragic Plane Crash Near Baramati Airport
The aviation tragedy that claimed the life of Maharashtra's Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar unfolded with devastating swiftness on Wednesday morning. A private chartered plane, carrying Pawar and four others, met with a catastrophic accident during its final descent at Baramati airport around 8.45 am. The aircraft failed to touch down safely, slipping from the runway, striking a rock, and erupting into a series of violent explosions that engulfed it in flames.
Chaos and Grief at the Crash Site as Crowds Swell
Minutes after news of the crash spread, a massive crowd began converging on the accident site near Baramati. Throughout the day and into the late evening, villagers and people from distant locations streamed in, overwhelming police efforts to maintain order. Hundreds stood transfixed, staring blankly at the mangled wreckage where the front and middle sections of the aircraft had been blown apart.
Eyewitnesses described a harrowing sequence of events. One local resident reported seeing the plane "tumbling" as it approached, something she had never witnessed before. "It slipped from the landing strip and hit against a rock. And then again it took a tumble after which there was first explosion followed by multiple explosions," she recounted. Another witness, who works at the airport, spoke of the difficulty in identifying victims: "After sometime as we reached the debris, we could not recognise the bodies..."
Five Lives Lost in the Blaze
On board the ill-fated flight were five individuals: Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, his personal security officer, an attendant, and two crew members including the pilot in command and first officer. Superintendent of Police (Rural) Sandip Singh Gill confirmed that all occupants were immediately rushed to Baramati hospital following the crash, but the fire that broke out instantly proved fatal.
An eyewitness who saw the landing attempt described the aircraft making unusual noise before its disastrous slide. "I saw four-five bodies being pulled out of the aircraft," she said, highlighting the immediate aftermath. Supporters who had come to receive Pawar at the airport were among the first to identify his remains, with one stating, "Some of his supporters...told us that one of the bodies was of Ajitdada."
Political Fraternity and Public Mourn a Beloved Leader
The news sent shockwaves through Maharashtra's political landscape. NCP workers and leaders from Baramati, Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad, and nearby talukas rushed to the scene. Representatives from other political parties soon followed, creating a continuous flow of mourners throughout the day.
By evening, Baramati town had transformed into a sea of grief-stricken citizens. Crowds gathered at multiple locations: the crash site itself, the hospital where bodies were kept, and Vidya Pratishtan premises where Pawar's body was to be placed for final respects.
Yogesh Choudhari, who traveled from Naigaon Peth, expressed the collective devastation: "I am at loss of words. Ajitdada was like a big brother who stood by us all the time...Every villager from Naigaon Peth, Hingangaon and nearby villagers are in a state of shock."
Personal Tributes Highlight Pawar's Enduring Legacy
Baramati residents shared emotional recollections of their leader. Deepali Shinde broke down as she spoke: "When I heard Ajitdada's plane accident, I could not believe it. I don't want to even discuss that he has died...Such a straightforward human being that he was, how can he die..."
Sarita Jagtap, another local resident, echoed this disbelief: "I went around the crash site, saw the wreckage and I still believe, he will turn up from somewhere. What a leader he was...A leader like him will never be born again."
Deepak Hare, who helped remove bodies from the wreckage, provided a grim detail about the crash's severity: "Three bodies had been removed earlier and two were remaining. I helped in carrying one body out. None of the bodies were identifiable as the faces were completely black."
The tragedy has left Maharashtra grappling with the sudden loss of one of its most prominent political figures, with investigations into the exact cause of the crash expected to follow as the state mourns.
