Ajit Pawar Plane Crash News Highlights

The post-mortem examinations of the two pilots who were flying the chartered aircraft that crash-landed at Baramati airport on Wednesday morning have been completed, and their mortal remains were handed over to family members for last rites.

The post-mortems of pilot Captain Sumit Kapoor and co-pilot Captain Sambhiav Pathak were conducted at the Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Holkar Government Medical College in Baramati. Following the procedure, the bodies were released to their respective families.

The chartered aircraft, which was flying from Mumbai to Baramati, crash-landed at around 8.44am at the runway threshold, killing all five persons on board. Among the deceased was Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, along with his personal security officer (PSO), an attendant, and the two pilots.

"The news was hard for me to believe at first, but one has to accept the bitter truth of what has happened," she said.

"There can never be another leader like Ajit Pawar in Maharashtra. He was known for keeping a firm grip over officers, working tirelessly for party workers and always keeping his word. I have seen him grow from a young boy into a great leader," she said, tears welling up in her eyes.

The former Union minister noted Pawar, who never hid his ambition to become CM, had a huge influence in today's politics.

Meera Pathak said she was surprised to receive the "good morning" message, as Shambhavi did not send messages regularly.

She said that around 11 am, her younger son called to inform her that Shambhavi was among the passengers on the plane that crashed and that Ajit Pawar had died.

Later, Shambhavi’s father and Meera Pathak’s elder son called to inform the family that they were travelling to Pune to receive the body. (PTI)

Union minister Murlidhar Mohol on Wednesday condoled the death of Maharashtra deputy CM Ajit Pawar in an air crash, saying that the politics of the state as well as Pune district would remain incomplete without him.

Mohol, the BJP MP from Pune, recalled that the two had a confrontation during the recently concluded municipal corporation elections in Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad which the Ajit Pawar-led NCP had contested separately.

Pawar had targeted the BJP's local leadership in Pune over what he termed derailed development of the city.

Mohol said the media asked him frequently about the allegations levelled by Pawar during the campaign, but he chose not to respond because he held Pawar in high esteem as a "leader with a firm grip over the administration." (PTI)

Expressing grief over Pawar's death, Nabin said in a post on X, "The news of the untimely death of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in a tragic plane crash in Baramati is deeply saddening."

While remaining actively involved in public life for decades, Pawar consistently gave primacy to the development of Maharashtra and the welfare of its people, the BJP chief said.

He always remained connected to the grassroots, he added.

"May God grant peace to the departed soul and give strength to the bereaved family and supporters to bear this immense loss," Nabin said, adding, "In this hour of grief, the NDA stands firmly with the Pawar family." (PTI)

Jadhav, a long-time resident of Vitawa, is survived by his parents, a 14-year-old daughter, and a nine-year-old son. His parents were away at their native place when the tragedy struck, and the family has since rushed to Baramati.

In the lane leading to Krishna Vihar, Jadhav's residence, shocked neighbours struggled to come to terms with the sudden death of a man they described as "warm and deeply respectful."

"I saw him leave for work around 6:30 am. Barely two hours later, we heard he was no more. I never thought this would happen," said , a neighbour.

Another resident, who had known Jadhav for nearly three decades, recalled their final encounter from Wednesday morning. "He waved in his usual friendly manner as he left for duty. It never crossed our minds that it would be the last time we saw him," the neighbour said. (PTI)

How did it happen, a composed Sharad Pawar asked after landing in Baramati, hours after the tragic death of his nephew and Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar in an aircraft crash on Wednesday.

The 85-year-old Pawar senior and his wife Pratibha Pawar flew to their hometown in a helicopter from Mumbai after hearing the news.

"How did it happen?" he was heard asking those who had come to receive them.

Later he left for the hospital where Ajit Pawar's body has been kept. (PTI)