Ajit Pawar, the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, India, was killed along with four other people when their chartered aircraft crashed on Wednesday morning. The Bombardier Learjet 45 crashed in an open field while landing at Baramati airport in the western state, home to India's financial capital, Mumbai.
The civil aviation ministry confirmed the crash occurred at approximately 8:44 AM local time. The 66-year-old politician was traveling with his personal security officer, an assistant, and two crew members. All five people on board died in the accident.
V.K. Singh, the owner of the aircraft's operator VSR Aviation, stated the plane was "very well maintained" and ruled out technical failure. "There was absolutely no problem in the aircraft. There was no technical failure as far as we know," Singh told reporters in New Delhi.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to Pawar on social media, describing his death as "shocking and saddening." Modi called Pawar a "widely respected," "hardworking" leader and a "stalwart" known for his understanding of administrative matters and passion for empowering the poor.
The crash is a significant loss for Maharashtra's political landscape, where Pawar was a key figure. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation has launched an investigation to determine the cause of the fatal accident.
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