NCP Chief and Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar dies in plane crash in Baramati, ‘Hardworking, people’s leader’, says PM Narendra Modi

An aircraft carrying Maharashtra deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and four others, including two crew members, crashed at Baramati airport, killing all five persons on board, a senior DGCA official said on Wednesday.

Maharashtra deputy CM Ajit Pawar dies in plane crash

A team of DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation) officials is heading to the crash site, the official said.

There were five passengers along with Deputy CM of Maharashtra Ajit Pawar. One PSO, one attendant and two crew members (pilot in command and the first officer) were on board the Learjet 45 aircraft when the accident happened, he said.

PM Modi paid his condolences, saying, “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.”

Sources said Ajit Pawar was scheduled to visit Baramati for an event related to the zilla panchayat elections.

He had been in Mumbai on Tuesday, attending a meeting of the Maharashtra Cabinet Committee on Infrastructure chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

Visuals from the crash site revealed the aircraft’s wreckage engulfed in flames, as local villagers and emergency responders gathered at the spot.

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