Ajit Pawar Plane Crash: From PM Modi To President Murmu And Pawan Kalyan, Who Said What On The Tragic Incident

NCP leader and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar passes away in a tragic plane crash while travelling from Mumbai to Baramati. According to these reports, four other people on board, including the pilots and Pawar's security personnel, were also killed in the incident.

The small chartered aircraft reportedly took off from Mumbai at around 8.10 am and crashed close to Baramati airport while attempting to land about half an hour later. Pawar was scheduled to attend four key public programmes in Baramati ahead of the local body elections next month.

Visuals from the crash site showed thick smoke, fire, and severely damaged remains of the aircraft, along with ambulances and emergency personnel present at the spot. As per initial information cited by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), all five people on board were reported to have died in the crash.

Ajit Pawar, 66, is the nephew of senior politician and NCP founder Sharad Pawar, and the cousin of Lok Sabha MP Supriya Sule. Sharad Pawar and Supriya Sule, who were in Delhi for the ongoing Parliament budget session, are expected to leave for Pune. Ajit Pawar is survived by his wife Sunetra Pawar and his two sons, Parth and Jay Pawar.

Reactions From the Centre and the State

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, reacting to the reports, said the news was deeply painful and described Ajit Pawar as a close friend with whom he shared both political and personal ties. He said Pawar's contribution to public life would be remembered.

President Droupadi Murmu termed the reported incident extremely tragic. In her message, she said the loss of lives in such accidents is heartbreaking and praised Ajit Pawar's role in Maharashtra's development, especially in the cooperative sector. She extended condolences to the affected families.

Union Ministers Manohar Lal Khattar, Ramdas Athawale, Piyush Goyal, HD Kumaraswamy, and Giriraj Singh also expressed sorrow, describing the reports as shocking and painful, and offered prayers for the families impacted.

Political Leaders Recall His Role and Work

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said the day was a painful one for the state. He recalled working closely with Ajit Pawar and highlighted his role in key welfare initiatives, including schemes launched during their time in government.

BJP MP Ravi Kishan said the reports, if confirmed, would mark a major loss to Maharashtra politics. BJP MP Arun Govil called the incident unfortunate and said the circumstances leading to it should be thoroughly examined.

From the opposition, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge described the reports as deeply distressing and remembered Ajit Pawar as a seasoned politician who served Maharashtra in several constitutional roles. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said she had spoken to members of the Pawar family to convey her condolences.

Leaders from other parties, including DMK MP T Siva, Congress MP Imran Masood, and Kerala Minister AK Saseendran, also expressed grief and shared personal memories of Ajit Pawar.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed condolences and demanded a Supreme Court-supervised investigation into the death of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and NCP leader Ajit Pawar.

She said, "There is no safety or security for the people of this country, not even for political leaders. I do not know what the stand of opposition parties is, but a few days ago I came across reports on social media claiming that someone from another party had said Ajit Pawar was willing to leave the BJP. And now, what has happened today? I need a proper investigation under the supervision of the Supreme Court. We trust only the Supreme Court and no other agency, as all agencies have been completely compromised. This is a great loss for the country."

Prime Minister Modi's Message

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, reacting to the reports, said Ajit Pawar was widely respected for his strong connection with the grassroots and his deep understanding of administration. He described Pawar as a hardworking leader who was committed to empowering the poor and underprivileged, and extended condolences to his family and admirers.

Gautam Adani Shares Emotional Message

Industrialist Gautam Adani also reacted to the reports in a post on social media, recalling his recent interaction with Ajit Pawar in Baramati. Expressing deep sorrow, Adani remembered Pawar's vision for development and his focus on the future.

"Deeply saddened by the passing of Maharashtra's Deputy Chief Minister, Ajit Pawar. Just a month ago, we stood together in Baramati for the inauguration of the Sharad Pawar Centre of Excellence in AI - a moment that reflected Ajit ji's vision, his belief in progress, and his commitment to Bharat's youth and their future. May we honour his legacy by continuing the work he championed to build a future-ready Maharashtra," Adani wrote.

Eyewitness Account From Baramati

An eyewitness near the reported crash site said the aircraft appeared unstable while descending and then burst into flames. "There were multiple explosions, and the fire was intense. People tried to help, but the flames were too strong," the eyewitness said, describing the scene as extremely distressing.