Key Points
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Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar died in a charter aircraft crash near Baramati.
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The plane attempted an emergency landing after departing from Mumbai.
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Indian authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the crash.
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar was killed on Wednesday after a charter aircraft carrying him crashed while attempting an emergency landing near Baramati in the western Indian state of Maharashtra, according to television reports confirmed by Reuters.
Video footage broadcast by Indian news channels showed thick smoke rising from burning wreckage scattered across an open field. The aircraft had departed from Mumbai and was en route to Baramati when it reportedly encountered technical trouble and attempted an emergency landing.
Ajit Pawar, a senior leader of the Nationalist Congress Party, was serving as the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra alongside Eknath Shinde under Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. He was one of the longest-serving deputy chief ministers in the state’s political history.
Authorities said emergency services rushed to the scene, but Pawar and others on board did not survive. Local officials have not yet released the full casualty count or details of the aircraft involved.
India’s aviation authorities have opened an investigation to determine the cause of the crash. Political leaders across party lines expressed shock and condolences following the news.
Pawar, born in 1959, was a prominent figure in Maharashtra politics for decades and played a key role in the state’s coalition governments. His sudden death marks a major loss for the ruling alliance and the Nationalist Congress Party.
Further official statements are expected as rescue teams complete their assessment and investigators analyze flight data and wreckage from the crash site.
This is a developing story and details may change as more verified information becomes available..
