Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, a senior leader from one of the state’s most powerful political families, was killed on Wednesday when his chartered aircraft crashed and burst into flames, aviation authorities confirmed.
Pawar, who hailed from a top political family, was en route to his home region to canvass in local body elections, the media said.
Two of his staff and two crew were also aboard the aircraft, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation said.
“No person on board has survived,” it added in an initial statement.
The DGCA said all five people on board the chartered aircraft, which was travelling from Mumbai to Baramati, lost their lives in the accident.
Indian media reported that Pawar was travelling to Baramati to address four public gatherings ahead of the upcoming district elections.
The aircraft – Bombardier Learjet 45 – was chartered from Mumbai and owned by Delhi-based company VSR.
Pawar backed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party in the state government, leading a faction that split in 2023 from the opposition Nationalist Congress Party.
Video showed billows of smoke rising from some of the burning wreckage of the plane, scattered across an open field.
The media said Pawar’s aircraft, travelling from the financial capital of Mumbai, tried to make an emergency landing in the family stronghold of Baramati, 250km away, where he was set to canvass in the elections.
Eyewitnesses said the plane was attempting to land near Runway 11 when it suddenly crashed and caught fire.
Ajit Pawar, popularly known as “Dada,” was the son of Anantrao Pawar, elder brother of veteran political leader Sharad Pawar.
Pawar belonged to one of Maharashtra’s most politically influential families.
He entered politics following the death of his father, Anantrao Pawar.
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