The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Wednesday declared a one-day holiday for its offices following the death of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in a plane crash at Baramati in Pune district. Only staff involved in essential and emergency services will remain on duty, officials said. The Maharashtra government has also announced a public holiday on January 28 and declared three days of state mourning following Ajit Pawar's death. As a mark of respect, flags are being flown at half-mast across the state. Mumbai University also rescheduled exams following the death of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader. Ajit Pawar, 66, and four others were killed when the chartered aircraft carrying them crashed on Wednesday morning. The incident has led to widespread grief across Maharashtra and the entire nation. Emergency services to remain operational The civic body clarified that only employees involved in essential and emergency services will be on duty during the day. All other municipal offices will remain closed as a mark of respect. Ajit Pawar dies in plane crash: Follow LIVE Updates here State govt announces mourning Earlier, the Maharashtra government declared January 28 as a public holiday and announced three days of state mourning to honour the late leader. The government has also declared the closure of all state government offices across Maharashtra on Wednesday, January 28, 2026. The decision was taken in view of the sad demise of Maharashtra deputy CM. Instructions have been issued to all departments, district collectors, police commissioners, and senior officials to ensure strict compliance with the mourning guidelines. University exams rescheduled Meanwhile, the Examination Section announced that all afternoon examinations scheduled for January 28, 2026, have been rescheduled. The decision applies to affiliated colleges in Commerce and Management, Arts and Education, as well as the Centre for Distance and Online Education (CDOE) after the death of Ajit Pawar in Pune. The revised examination dates will be announced later. College principals have been asked to inform students accordingly. Official orders issued The mourning and closure orders were issued by the General Administration Department, Mantralaya. Senior officials across the state, including commissioners, district collectors and police authorities, have been directed to take necessary action on its implementations across the state. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday expressed grief and sorrow following Maharashtra deputy CM Ajit Pawar's death in a plane crash. PM Modi spoke to NCP (SP) chief and Ajit Pawar's uncle Sharad Pawar and conveyed his heartfelt condolences to the family and his party leaders.
28 January,2026 06:09 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentAn aircraft carrying Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar appeared “unstable in the air” before crashing and exploding near Baramati in Pune district on Wednesday morning, a woman eyewitness said, reported news agency PTI. Another witness claimed the aircraft burst into flames immediately after hitting the ground, triggering four to five successive explosions. Pawar (66) and four others were killed after the aircraft crash-landed at Baramati airport around 8.50 am, officials said, reported PTI. A local resident said she noticed the aircraft circling the airport earlier in the morning before the crash. ‘It took a round and then crashed,’ says woman eyewitness of Ajit Pawar plane crash "It took a round in the air, appeared a bit unstable and as it was approaching the runway to land, it hit the ground hard and exploded. There was a loud sound and could be heard at our home," the woman told a news channel. According to PTI, she said that several parts of the aircraft were hurled into the air after the explosion and fell near her house. "The plane tilted before coming down. We saw the explosion and it was frightening," she said. Another eyewitness also said the aircraft appeared to be losing control as it descended. "The way the plane was coming down, we felt it was going to crash. It was around 100 feet above the runway. As we rushed towards it, we saw flames, followed by four to five consecutive blasts, which prevented us from going anywhere near the aircraft," he told PTI. "It was a major fire. We later learned that Pawar was on the aircraft. It was shocking for us," he added. Another eyewitness, Pramod Madurikar, said the bodies were identified immediately after the crash and shifted to an ambulance, while fire brigade personnel reached the spot almost simultaneously to assist with rescue and emergency operations, reported PTI. According to Flight Radar, the flight took off from Mumbai at 8.10 am and it disappeared from radar around 8.45 am. Additionally, according to IANS sources, Ajit Pawar's mortal remains were identified by the watch he was wearing at the time of his death. Pawar was travelling to Baramati from Mumbai to address public meetings as part of the campaign for the February 5 zilla parishad elections in the state. There were five people on board when the aircraft crashed at 8.50 am, a police official said. Superintendent of Police, Sandip Singh Gill, said that after the crash, there was a fire. "People onboard were immediately taken to the hospital," he added. (With IANS and PTI inputs)
28 January,2026 05:58 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe Maharashtra government has declared Wednesday, January 28, a holiday across all state government offices and schools following the sudden demise of Deputy Chief Minister (CM) Ajit Pawar in a plane crash earlier in the day in Baramati, Pune district. Official circulars issued by the general administration department (GAD), the directorate of education, and the divisional deputy director of education, Mumbai, confirm a three-day state mourning period until Friday, January 30. The national flag will fly at half-mast on all government buildings where it is regularly hoisted, and no official entertainment programmes will be held during this time. “Shri Ajit Anantrao Pawar, Honourable Deputy Chief Minister, Government of Maharashtra, passed away today, the 28th January 2026… The Government of Maharashtra hereby declares the closing of all offices of the State Government throughout the state on Wednesday, January 28th, 2026,” the official circular said. The education department has instructed all primary, secondary, higher-secondary schools, and junior colleges statewide to remain closed today. Separate letters from the directorate of education and the Mumbai Divisional Deputy Director direct officials to immediately inform all institutions under their jurisdiction. Schools and colleges in Mumbai, Thane, Pune, and across Maharashtra have been shut for the day. Ajit Pawar, 66, was travelling in a chartered Learjet 45 from Mumbai to Baramati when the aircraft crashed while attempting to land at Baramati airport on Wednesday morning. Four others — two pilots, a crew member, and Pawar’s personal security officer — also lost their lives in the incident. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) have launched a probe into the incident. Political leaders across party lines have expressed shock and grief. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, and Nationalist Congress Party (SP) chief Sharad Pawar are among those who paid tributes to the veteran leader, popularly known as “Dada”. Ajit Pawar plane crash Live updates: Follow our live blog for real-time updates Fadnavis calls Pawar’s death an irreparable loss Further details on the funeral and last rites are awaited. Addressing a press conference in Mumbai, Fadnavis said the decision on Pawar’s last rites would be taken after discussions with his family. “A state holiday has been declared and three days of state mourning announced. This is an irreparable loss for the entire state of Maharashtra,” he said, adding that a “wave of sorrow” had spread across the state. Remembering Pawar as a determined and hardworking leader who made a significant contribution to Maharashtra’s development, Fadnavis called the tragedy a personal loss. “Ajit Dada never wavered under any circumstances. It takes years to build such leadership. His demise is shocking, and for me, it is the loss of a close friend. It is also a huge loss for his family,” said the Maharashtra CM. CM, Dy CM to head to Baramati Fadnavis said he and Deputy CM Eknath Shinde would leave for Baramati shortly. He added that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah had spoken to him and conveyed their condolences. “Once we reach Baramati and speak to the family, a decision regarding the funeral will be taken,” Fadnavis said, adding that he had already spoken to Pawar's cousin and NCP (SP) Member of Parliament (MP) Supriya Sule and son Parth. Crowds gather at hospital; family travels to Baramati Meanwhile, a large crowd gathered outside the hospital in Baramati where Pawar’s mortal remains were brought. NCP working president Praful Patel, along with Sule, Pawar’s wife Sunetra, and Parth, departed from New Delhi for Baramati.
28 January,2026 04:32 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe father of a flight attendant Pinky Mali, who was on board in the fatal air crash that killed 5, including Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, said that his daughter had promised to speak to him "tomorrow," but that moment will never come. Expressing his grief with an emotional voice, his eyes welled up while briefing about the last conversation that he had with her daughter. Pinky Mali was among the five who were killed in the Baramati plane crash. Shivkumar, a resident of Prabhadevi in Central Mumbai, while recounting the last conversation with her daughter, said that her daughter informed her about going to Baramati. While talking to him, she said, "Pappa, I am flying to Baramati tomorrow (Wednesday) with Dy CM Ajit Pawar. After dropping him, I will go to Nanded and will speak to you once I reach the hotel," as reported by news agency PTI. Pinky was an attendant on the Learjet 46, operated by Delhi-based VSR Ventures, that crash-landed at the Baramati airport. There were five people onboard, including the crew members, according to the aviation regulator DGCA. Shivkumar further said that her daughter had flown with the president, chief ministers, and several political leaders. He also asserted that her daughter was flying with Ajit Pawar for the fourth time, as per PTI. "I spoke to her last evening, and she told me that she would be going to Baramati with Deputy CM Ajit Pawar and would then proceed to Nanded. I told her, 'Let us speak tomorrow after your duty.' But that tomorrow will never come," Shivkumar added with a very heavy voice. Attendant's father was also a NCP activist The father, who is also an activist of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) that Pawar headed, said a local politician named Samadhan Sarvankar informed him about Ajit Pawar's plane crash. He said, "I switched on the television. The news left me shocked.” The father and daughter had last met on January 16, when Pinky visited Prabhadevi from Thane to cast her vote in the civic polls. The attendant has been working as a flight attendant for the last five years. Pinky had been working as a flight attendant for the last five years. She started with Air India and moved to private chartered flights after a couple of years, he said. Shivkumat said, "During a recent flight with Ajit Pawar, my daughter complained to him that he was travelling across Maharashtra but was not paying attention to NCP activists. When Pawar asked her why she felt so, Pinky told him that "I have been an NCP worker for 35 years," as cited by PTI. "As I was driving a car, the call went unanswered. Then I got a message that Pawar wanted to speak to me," he said. Even that call will never happen, he added. Other victims who lost their lives in the Baramati plane crash After learning about the accident, Shivkumar and his family rushed to Baramati. Besides Pawar and Pinky, the other victims have been identified as Vidip Jadhav, Captain Shambhavi Pathak, and Captain Sumit Kapur. Vidip Jadhav, a police naik attached to the Special Protection Unit of the Mumbai police, had taken off with Pawar and others from Kalina on Wednesday morning. Vidip was a resident of Vitava near Thane. Captain Shambhavi Pathak was the co-pilot on the Learjet 46. According to her social media profile, she had been with VSR Ventures for the past three years. It says she received commercial pilot training in 2018-19 at the New Zealand International Commercial Pilot Academy Limited. Earlier, she studied Aeronautics, Aviation, and Aerospace Science and Technology at Mumbai University between 2020 and 2022. (With inputs from PTI)
28 January,2026 04:31 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentIn a move aimed at reducing traffic congestion and preventing accidents, the Mumbai Traffic Police have issued a temporary notification prohibiting the entry of heavy vehicles and water tankers on several narrow roads in Borivali East. The notification, issued by Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic), Western Suburbs, Ajit Borhade, on Wednesday, will be in effect on a trial basis for three months, until April 28. Affected roads Nirmal Building to Post Office Road No 12 Post Office Siddhi Vinayak Building to Kajupada Chowki Road No 15 Rear side of Nirmal Building to Shrikrishna Nagar Road No 13 Shrikrishna Nagar Road No 14 Kajupada Chowki to Savarpada Road Kajupada Chowk to Machhi Market Road Main Market to Zhagardev Compound, Kajupada, Mane Compound According to the notification, a large number of private water tankers coming to fill water at Mane Compound and Kaju Pada have caused serious traffic obstructions on these extremely narrow roads. Past incidents have also included accidents of serious nature, prompting authorities to take precautionary measures. ExemptionsVehicles engaged in essential services will be allowed at all times, including: Delivery of vegetables, milk, bread, and bakery items Gas and fuel tankers Ambulances and fire brigade vehicles Municipal Corporation vehicles providing essential services Police vehicles The traffic restrictions will apply every day from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Citizens have been urged to cooperate with traffic police instructions and use alternative routes to avoid inconvenience. Violations of this order may attract legal action under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, and other applicable laws, the police warned. Mumbai road concretisation: 3-month traffic restrictions issued at Padmavati Road in Dindoshi As part of the Mumbai road concretisation project, the city police have issued 3-month long traffic restrictions at Padmavati Road in Dindoshi area of the city. According to the Mumbai Police, concreting work is currently underway on Padmavati Road, between Aarey Junction, Dudh Sagar and General Arun Kumar Vaidya Marg, under the jurisdiction of the Dindoshi Traffic Division. The work is being carried out by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). Due to the movement of heavy machinery and materials required for the construction, traffic congestion has been observed on this stretch of road, resulting in severe delays and disruption to smooth traffic flow, a traffic notification said. In view of the traffic congestion and to ensure public safety, the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Traffic (Western Suburbs), Ajit Borhade, on Saturday issued a traffic order under Section 115 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. The order imposes traffic restrictions on Padmavati Road as a precautionary measure.
28 January,2026 04:24 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentMaharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Wednesday expressed profound grief over the death of his fellow Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who died in a plane crash while an aircraft was landing near Baramati. Shinde said the tragic aircraft accident that claimed Pawar’s life would be thoroughly probed. Aircraft accident will be probed, says Shinde Speaking to reporters before leaving for Baramati, Shinde described the incident as deeply painful and unfortunate for the state. "It is a very painful incident… very sad and unfortunate for Maharashtra. The aircraft accident will be probed," he said, adding that Pawar’s death was both a personal loss and a major blow to the state’s political and administrative leadership. "Today, I feel as though I have lost my elder brother. Ajit Pawar was not just a leader; he was a knowledgeable personality who valued time and had a strong grip over administration," Shinde said, visibly emotional. The tragic incident has cast a pall of gloom across Maharashtra, with tributes pouring in from political, social and administrative circles. Shinde said he immediately decided to travel to Baramati after receiving the news of the crash. Recalling their long association, Shinde lauded Pawar’s contribution to public life, noting that they had served together in different cabinets. He also recalled that Pawar was his deputy when he headed the Maharashtra government between 2022 and 2024. "We worked together for many years. He would begin work at the crack of dawn—I have personally seen him issuing instructions as early as six in the morning. He spoke only after thoroughly studying every issue. Though blunt by nature, at heart he was extremely pure," Shinde said. This loss is not just of the Pawar family but of the entire state: Eknath Shinde He added that Pawar's role during cabinet discussions, especially on the state’s financial condition, was marked by realism and clarity. "He always presented the ground reality and suggested the right course. His experience, depth of study and command over administration were guiding lights for all of us," Shinde noted. The Deputy Chief Minister said he had met Pawar just a day or two earlier at a programme, making the loss even more difficult to accept. "This loss is not just of the Pawar family but of the entire state. I am feeling as if I have lost my elder brother," he said, paying heartfelt tributes. With Pawar’s demise, Maharashtra has lost a fearless, dynamic and experienced leader, whose work and administrative legacy, leaders across party lines said, will be remembered for years to come.
28 January,2026 03:21 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentAfter the tragic death of Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, NCP–Sharadchandra Pawar faction leader Anil Deshmukh, while addressing the media on Wednesday, broke down into tears. The former Maharashtra Home Minister was unable to overcome his emotions after the news of the sudden demise of Ajit Pawar broke out. VIDEO | Mumbai: NCP–Sharadchandra Pawar leader Anil Deshmukh breaks down after Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar was killed in an aircraft crash in Pune district. (Full video available on PTI Videos - https://t.co/dv5TRAShcC) pic.twitter.com/H718WahirV — Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) January 28, 2026 Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar was killed in an extremely unfortunate aircraft crash in Baramati. Visibly shaken, Deshmukh broke down while addressing the media, struggling to hold back tears as he spoke about the tragedy. Raj Thackeray pays tribute to Ajit Pawar Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray on Wednesday expressed deep grief over the death of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar. Ajit Pawar on Wednesday at around 9 am lost his life in a tragic plane crash in Baramati. My friend and Deputy Chief Minister of the state, Ajit Pawar, has passed away. While referring to Ajit Pawar as his close friend, MNS chief Raj Thackeray, in a heartfelt condolence message shared on social media, said that Pawar was an “outstanding leader” and a towering figure in Maharashtra’s political landscape. While writing a heartfelt message on social media, Raj Thackeray wrote, “My friend and Deputy Chief Minister of the state, Ajit Pawar, has passed away. Maharashtra's politics has lost an outstanding leader.” Raj Thackeray praises Ajit Pawar’s governance Hailing Pawar’s candor, simplicity, and fearlessness in decision-making, Raj also wrote, “Ajit Pawar had a complete grasp of this kind of politics and the skill to handle it adeptly. Pimpri Chinchwad and Baramati are two excellent examples of that. Whether it was Pimpri Chinchwad or Baramati, Ajit Dada transformed these regions in ways that even his political opponents would acknowledge.” MNS chief refers to Ajit Pawar as his friend despite being political rivals Raj Thackeray, while remembering his dear friend, also said that political rivalries are not personal and the sudden demise of a prominent leader like Ajit Pawar is surely an extremely unfortunate incident.
28 January,2026 03:20 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentMaharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray on Wednesday expressed deep grief over the death of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar. Ajit Pawar on Wednesday at around 9 am lost his life in a tragic plane crash in Baramati. My friend and Deputy Chief Minister of the state, Ajit Pawar, has passed away. माझे मित्र आणि राज्याचे उपमुख्यमंत्री अजित पवार यांचं निधन झालं. महाराष्ट्राच्या राजकारणाने एक उमदा नेता गमावला. अजित पवार यांचा आणि माझा राजकारणातला प्रवेश हा काहीसा एकाच काळातील, अर्थात आमचा परिचय हा बराच नंतरचा. पण राजकारणावर कमालीचं प्रेम या एका गुणावर अजित पवारांनी… pic.twitter.com/yIjUC255Af — Raj Thackeray (@RajThackeray) January 28, 2026 While referring to Ajit Pawar as his close friend, MNS chief Raj Thackeray, in a heartfelt condolence message shared on social media, said that Pawar was an “outstanding leader” and a towering figure in Maharashtra’s political landscape. While writing a heartfelt message on social media, Raj Thackeray wrote, “My friend and Deputy Chief Minister of the state, Ajit Pawar, has passed away. Maharashtra's politics has lost an outstanding leader.” Signifying his close relations with Ajit Pawar, Raj Thackeray also added, “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.” While hailing Ajit Pawar’s political stature and how he made his way through the ranks, Raj Thackeray said, “Though Ajit Pawar was a leader forged in the mold of Pawar Saheb, he later carved out his own independent identity. And he imprinted that identity in every nook and corner of Maharashtra.” Raj Thackeray also addressed Ajit Pawar as a towering figure and admirable administrator with a sharp grasp of governance. The MNS chief said that the Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister possessed clarity in resolving bureaucratic challenges and believed in straightforward, honest politics, which is quite rare in the political spectrum. Raj Thackeray praises Ajit Pawar’s governance Hailing Pawar’s candor, simplicity, and fearlessness in decision-making, Raj also wrote, “Ajit Pawar had a complete grasp of this kind of politics and the skill to handle it adeptly. Pimpri Chinchwad and Baramati are two excellent examples of that. Whether it was Pimpri Chinchwad or Baramati, Ajit Dada transformed these regions in ways that even his political opponents would acknowledge.” MNS chief refers to Ajit Pawar as his friend despite being political rivals Raj Thackeray, while remembering his dear friend, also said that political rivalries are not personal and the sudden demise of a prominent leader like Ajit Pawar is surely an extremely unfortunate incident. While concluding his social media post, Raj wrote, “Opposition in politics is political, not personal. That's why leaders in Maharashtra who keep in mind that poisonous criticism of each other shouldn't be taken personally are becoming fewer. The successive departure of generous opponents from politics is a great loss to Maharashtra’s fine political tradition.”
28 January,2026 03:19 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentMaharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and four others were killed on Wednesday after a chartered aircraft carrying them crash-landed at Baramati airport in Pune district, officials said. Learjet operated by VSR Ventures was carrying Pawar, staff and crew The aircraft, a Learjet operated by Delhi-based VSR Ventures, was carrying five people on board, including Pawar, two accompanying staff members and two crew members. All five occupants died in the crash, according to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). DGCA confirms names of all five victims Those on board the ill-fated flight were Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, Vidip Jadhav, Pinki Mali, Sumit Kapoor and Sambhavi Pathak. The DGCA confirmed that no person survived the accident. The five people on the ill-fated charter plane were Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, Vidip Jadhav, Pinki Mali, Sumit Kapoor, and Sambhavi Pathak. All five died in the crash landing in Baramati. https://t.co/ZwkKypdSi1 — ANI (@ANI) January 28, 2026 “A Learjet aircraft carrying the Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and four others crash-landed at Baramati airport. There were no survivors,” a senior DGCA official said, adding that a team of DGCA officials has been rushed to the crash site to investigate the incident. Two crew members and three passengers on board According to the aviation regulator, the aircraft had two crew members — the pilot-in-command and the first officer — and three passengers, including Pawar, one personal security officer and one attendant. Flight took off from Mumbai at 8.10 am, crashed around 8.50 am Flight tracking data showed that the aircraft took off from Mumbai at around 8.10 am and disappeared from radar at approximately 8.45 am. The crash occurred at around 8.50 am, a police official said. Pawar, 66, was travelling from Mumbai to Baramati to address public meetings as part of the campaign for the February 5 zilla parishad elections in Maharashtra. He is survived by his wife Sunetra Pawar, a Rajya Sabha member, and two sons, Parth and Jay. Pawar was a senior leader of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), which had recently contested the Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad municipal corporation elections in alliance with the NCP (Sharad Pawar faction). The Maharashtra government declared a three-day state mourning till January 30, during which the national flag will be flown at half-mast on all buildings. There will be no official entertainment during the mourning period.
28 January,2026 03:17 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentMaharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday announced a statewide public holiday and three days of state mourning following the death of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in a plane crash earlier in the day. Mourning from January 28 to 30, flags at half-mast The Government of Maharashtra said the three-day mourning period would be observed from January 28 to January 30, 2026, as a mark of respect for Pawar’s life and contributions. During this period, the national flag will be flown at half-mast on all government buildings where it is regularly hoisted, and no official entertainment programmes will be organised. Fadnavis calls Pawar’s death an irreparable loss Addressing a press conference in Mumbai, Fadnavis said the decision on Pawar’s last rites would be taken after discussions with his family. “A state holiday has been declared and three days of state mourning announced. This is an irreparable loss for the entire state of Maharashtra,” he said. Fadnavis said a “wave of sorrow” had spread across the state, remembering Pawar as a determined and hardworking leader who made a significant contribution to Maharashtra’s development. Calling the tragedy a personal loss, he said, “Ajit Dada never wavered under any circumstances. It takes years to build such leadership. His demise is shocking, and for me, it is the loss of a close friend. It is also a huge loss for his family.” CM, Dy CM to head to Baramati; PM, Shah convey condolences The Chief Minister said he and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde would leave for Baramati shortly. He added that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah had spoken to him and conveyed their condolences. “Once we reach Baramati and speak to the family, a decision regarding the funeral will be taken,” Fadnavis said, adding that he had already spoken to Supriya Sule and Parth Pawar. Crowds gather at hospital; family travels to Baramati Meanwhile, a large crowd gathered outside the Baramati hospital where Pawar’s mortal remains were brought. NCP working president Praful Patel, along with Supriya Sule, Pawar’s wife Sunetra Pawar, and son Parth Pawar, departed from New Delhi for Baramati. Ajit Pawar died when a charter aircraft crashed while travelling from Mumbai to Baramati on Wednesday morning. He had been in Mumbai on January 27 to attend a meeting of the Maharashtra Cabinet Committee on Infrastructure chaired by CM Fadnavis. Aged 66, Pawar was the nephew of veteran leader Sharad Pawar and the cousin of Supriya Sule. He was the longest-serving Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra in non-consecutive terms, having held the post six times under governments led by Prithviraj Chavan, Devendra Fadnavis, Uddhav Thackeray and Eknath Shinde. He is survived by his wife Sunetra Pawar and his two sons, Jay and Parth Pawar. Ajit Pawar plane crash Live updates: Follow our live blog for real-time updates (With inputs from Agencies)
28 January,2026 01:27 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentMaharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday expressed profound grief over the demise of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who died in a tragic charter plane crash near Baramati. In an emotional message, Fadnavis said Pawar was a mass leader with deep grassroots connect and described his death as a personal and irreparable loss. “The news has left me deeply distressed. I am numb and at a loss for words,” the Chief Minister said, adding that the day marked an extremely difficult moment for the state. दादा गेले!जमिनीशी घट्ट नाळ असलेले जननेते, माझे मित्र आणि सहकारी, उपमुख्यमंत्री अजितदादा पवार यांचा विमान अपघातात मृत्यू झाल्याची घटना मनाला अत्यंत व्यथित करणारी आहे. मनाला चटका लावणारी आहे. मन सुन्न झाले आहे. भावना व्यक्त करण्यासाठी माझ्याकडे शब्द नाहीत.माझा दमदार आणि दिलदार… — Devendra Fadnavis (@Dev_Fadnavis) January 28, 2026 Fadnavis noted that he had lost a strong and large-hearted friend and colleague, underscoring the impact of Pawar’s passing on Maharashtra’s political and public life. He paid heartfelt tributes to the late leader and extended solidarity with Ajit Pawar’s family as well as the Nationalist Congress Party. The Chief Minister also expressed condolences to the families of four other people who lost their lives in the accident, stating that the state shares in their grief. Following the tragedy, Fadnavis announced the cancellation of all his scheduled programmes and said he would be leaving for Baramati shortly. Eknath Shinde says aircraft accident will be probed Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Wednesday expressed profound grief over the death of his fellow Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who died in a plane crash while an aircraft was landing near Baramati. Shinde said the tragic aircraft accident that claimed Pawar’s life would be thoroughly probed. Speaking to reporters before leaving for Baramati, Shinde described the incident as deeply painful and unfortunate for the state. "It is a very painful incident… very sad and unfortunate for Maharashtra. The aircraft accident will be probed," he said, adding that Pawar’s death was both a personal loss and a major blow to the state’s political and administrative leadership. "Today, I feel as though I have lost my elder brother. Ajit Pawar was not just a leader; he was a knowledgeable personality who valued time and had a strong grip over administration," Shinde said, visibly emotional. The tragic incident has cast a pall of gloom across Maharashtra, with tributes pouring in from political, social and administrative circles. Shinde said he immediately decided to travel to Baramati after receiving the news of the crash. Recalling their long association, Shinde lauded Pawar’s contribution to public life, noting that they had served together in different cabinets. He also recalled that Pawar was his deputy when he headed the Maharashtra government between 2022 and 2024. "We worked together for many years. He would begin work at the crack of dawn—I have personally seen him issuing instructions as early as six in the morning. He spoke only after thoroughly studying every issue. Though blunt by nature, at heart he was extremely pure," Shinde said. He added that Pawar's role during cabinet discussions, especially on the state’s financial condition, was marked by realism and clarity. "He always presented the ground reality and suggested the right course. His experience, depth of study and command over administration were guiding lights for all of us," Shinde noted. The Deputy Chief Minister said he had met Pawar just a day or two earlier at a programme, making the loss even more difficult to accept. "This loss is not just of the Pawar family but of the entire state. I am feeling as if I have lost my elder brother," he said, paying heartfelt tributes.
28 January,2026 12:39 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
