A tragic plane crash on Wednesday morning (January 28) has claimed the life of a senior Indian politician and four others.
Ajit Pawar, who was serving as the eighth Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, was on a Learjet 45 business jet that went down about 30 minutes after departing from Mumbai.
The crash took place near Baramati Airport in Maharashtra, and was captured by CCTV, showing the moment the plane went up in flames.
NDTV shared footage of the incident, which reveals the fire and smoke arising as the plane crashed just beyond a highway.
According to Flightradar24 data, the aircraft left Mumbai at 8.10am, tried to land unsuccessfully at 8.30am, and attempted again at around 8.42am.
The aircraft disappeared from radar shortly after.
One eyewitness reported to NDTV that the plane ‘exploded and burst into a massive fire,’ followed by several more explosions. The witness further elaborated: “People came and tried to pull out passengers from the aircraft. Due to the huge fire, they could not help…”
India Today has noted that dense fog contributed to low visibility at Baramati Airport, which was around ‘800 meters.’
Pawar was reportedly recognized by his watch.
The crash also took the lives of two staff members and two crew members who were onboard, according to the BBC.
The complete cause of the crash is still under investigation.
The Maharashtra government has announced three days of state mourning as a tribute.
Warning: The video below contains footage of the plane crash which may be distressing to some viewers
Pawar was the most enduring deputy chief minister in Maharashtra’s history, holding the position for six non-consecutive terms.
He managed significant portfolios such as finance, energy, and water resources, and had been in Mumbai for a cabinet meeting.
CCTV Footage Shows Moment Ajit Pawar's Plane Crashed, Burst Into Flames https://t.co/QIhkS2HAJj@vedikas @padmajajoshi @shivaroor pic.twitter.com/GtNYC5Wn8k
— NDTV (@ndtv) January 28, 2026
Pawar had been traveling to Maharashtra for discussions related to the upcoming elections in Pune, as reported by India Today.
He is survived by his wife, Sunetra Pawar, a fellow politician, social worker, and Rajya Sabha member from Maharashtra, along with their two sons, Jay and Parth.
Tributes have begun to pour in for Pawar, including condolences from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
On X, formerly known as Twitter, he expressed: “Saddened by the tragic plane crash that occurred in Baramati, Maharashtra.
“My thoughts are with all those who lost their loved ones in the crash. Praying for strength and courage for the bereaved families in this moment of profound grief.”
Politician Raj Thackeray also paid homage on the social media platform, stating: “Maharashtra’s politics has lost an outstanding leader.
“Ajit Pawar and I entered politics around the same time, though our acquaintance came much later. But on the strength of his sheer passion for politics, Ajit Pawar took great strides in Maharashtra’s political arena.”