MUMBAI Jan 28— In a shocking development that has sent ripples across India’s political landscape, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar passed away on Wednesday, January 28, 2026. The veteran Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader was among five people killed when his chartered plane crashed and exploded shortly before landing at Pune’s Baramati Airport.
The aircraft reportedly burst into flames upon impact, leaving no survivors. Pawar, 66, was a titan of Maharashtra politics, and his sudden demise adds a grim new chapter to India’s long history of aviation tragedies involving prominent public figures.
A Legacy of Loss: Notable Indian Leaders Who Perished in Air Crashes
The Baramati tragedy serves as a painful reminder of the many visionary leaders and icons India has lost to the skies. From technical failures to inclement weather, these accidents have frequently altered the course of the nation’s political and industrial history.
1. Vijay Rupani (2025)
Only last year, the nation mourned former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani. On June 12, 2025, a London-bound flight crashed moments after takeoff from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. Rupani was one of the 241 victims in one of the deadliest civilian aviation disasters in recent memory.
2. General Bipin Rawat (2021)
India’s first Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Bipin Rawat, died on December 8, 2021. His Mi-17V5 helicopter crashed near Coonoor, Tamil Nadu, while en route to the Defence Services Staff College. The crash claimed the lives of the General, his wife Madhulika Rawat, and 11 other personnel.
3. Dorjee Khandu (2011)
The then Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu met a tragic end on April 30, 2011. His helicopter went missing in the rugged terrain of the West Kameng district; the wreckage was located days later, confirming the loss of the state’s popular leader.
4. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy (2009)
In a crash that shook South India, Andhra Pradesh CM Y.S.R. Reddy died on September 2, 2009. His Bell 430 helicopter disappeared over the Nallamala forests during a period of severe weather, leading to a massive search operation before the tragic discovery.
5. O.P. Jindal (2005)
Industrialist and Haryana Power Minister O.P. Jindal died on March 2, 2005. A technical failure caused his helicopter to go down near Saharanpur, marking a significant loss for both the Indian steel industry and the state government.
6. Madhavrao Scindia (2001)
Senior Congress leader and former Civil Aviation Minister Madhavrao Scindia was killed on September 30, 2001. His Cessna aircraft crashed in Mainpuri, Uttar Pradesh, while he was traveling to address a rally. Poor visibility and heavy rain were cited as the primary causes.
7. Sanjay Gandhi (1980)
One of the most high-profile aviation deaths in Indian history occurred on June 23, 1980. Sanjay Gandhi, son of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, died while performing aerobatic maneuvers in a private plane near Delhi’s Safdarjung Airport.
The Impact on Maharashtra Politics
The loss of Ajit Pawar creates a massive vacuum in the Maharashtra cabinet and the NCP. Known for his administrative grit and “man of action” persona, his death in his home bastion of Baramati has left supporters and colleagues in a state of profound grief.
Note: Authorities have launched a high-level probe into the cause of the Baramati crash to determine if the explosion was caused by technical malfunction or bird strike
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