INDIA – India’s Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra Ajit Pawar was on Wednesday Jan. 28 morning killed together with several others in a private plane crash.

The plane, carrying Ajit Pawar and others, crashed in Maharashtra’s city of Baramati, said public broadcaster All India Radio.

Besides Pawar, four people were onboard including two crew members, and according to initial information, there were no survivors.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Pawar’s “untimely demise is very shocking and saddening.”

“He was widely respected as a hardworking personality at the forefront of serving the people of Maharashtra … condolences to his family and countless admirers,” Modi said on US social media company X.

Shri Ajit Pawar Ji was a leader of the people, having a strong grassroots level connect. He was widely respected as a hardworking personality at the forefront of serving the people of Maharashtra. His understanding of administrative matters and passion for empowering the poor and… pic.twitter.com/mdgwwGzw4R
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 28, 2026

He said his “thoughts are with all those who lost their loved ones in the crash.”