28 January,2026 07:17 PM IST | Pune | mid-day online correspondent
Ajit Pawar’s sudden death in the Baramati plane crash has led to widespread grief across the state and the nation. Pic/X
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde along Governor Acharya Devvrat on Wednesday reached Baramati as Pune began to prepare for NCP chief Ajit Pawar's last rites.
The leaders reached the site to offer their condolences to the family and party members, as well as to participate in the funeral rituals, officials said.
They also met the family members of Ajit Pawar.
In a post on X, the CMO wrote, "Maharashtra Governor Acharya Devvrat and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis met with Sunetra Pawar, the wife of late Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, to offer their condolences. Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde was also present along with them. The leaders expressed their sympathy to the family following the tragic plane crash near Baramati that claimed Ajit Pawar's life."
Ajit Pawar's sudden death in the Baramati plane crash has led to widespread grief across the state and the nation.
Political leaders from the across the country, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, paid tributes to Ajit Pawar.
The state government has declared three days of state mourning, and flags are being flown at half-mast across Maharashtra.
CM Fadnavis had earlier stated that during these three days, the national flag will be flown at half-mast at all the buildings in Maharashtra where the national flag is regularly hoisted.
The local administration has made arrangements for people to offer their condolences and participate in the final rites. Several leaders and party workers have also been seen offering prayers and paying their respects.
Ajit Pawar dies in plane crash: Follow LIVE Updates here
The last rites of Ajit Pawar, who was killed in the aircraft crash, will be held with full state honours on Thursday in Baramati, in Pune district, reported the PTI.
The funeral will take place at the Vidya Pratishthan ground at 11 a.m. The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) said that leaders from across the political spectrum will attend, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah are expected to be present, the news agency reported.
The crash occurred on Wednesday morning, shortly after Ajit Pawar and four others took off from Mumbai. In addition to Pawar, the victims included his personal security officer, an attendant, and two crew members, the pilot-in-command and the first officer.
Ajit Pawar is survived by his wife Sunetra Pawar, a Rajya Sabha member, and two sons, Parth and Jay.
The aircraft carrying Ajit Pawar was cleared to land at Baramati in Pune on Wednesday morning after a go-around due to poor visibility. However, once the landing clearance was finally issued, the crew did not provide any read-back or response to Air Traffic Control.
Moments later, the aircraft burst into flames at the edge of the runway.
The plane, a Learjet 45 operated by VSR Ventures Pvt Ltd, was attempting to land in low visibility, Civil Aviation Minister K. Ram Mohan Naidu said. A statement from the ministry described the final minutes of the ill-fated flight, which ended in the deaths of all five people on board, including Ajit Pawar.
An investigation has been launched into the incident.
