Digital Goa, Jan 28 – Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and NCP leader Ajit Pawar was killed on Wednesday morning when the chartered aircraft he was traveling in crash-landed near Baramati Airport in Pune district. Four others, including two crew members and two accompanying personnel, also died in the accident, officials confirmed. The Learjet 45 (VT‑SSK), operated by Delhi-based VSR Ventures, was flying from Mumbai to Baramati when it reportedly lost control while attempting to land, veered off the runway, and burst into flames. Eyewitnesses reported multiple explosions as the plane hit the ground. 66-year-old Pawar, a seasoned politician and long-serving deputy chief minister, was traveling to attend public meetings ahead of the Zilla Parishad and Panchayat Samiti elections. Leaders and citizens across India expressed grief, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi calling him “a leader of the people” and recalling his dedication to public service.
