Ajit Pawar Plane Crash NCP Chief’s State Funeral on Thursday; PM Modi, Amit Shah Likely to Attend
Live Updates | January 28, 2026
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Nationalist Congress Party chief Ajit Pawar died on Wednesday morning after a chartered plane crash in Baramati. Five people on board — including the crew — were killed when the aircraft, flying from Mumbai, crash-landed at 08:45 local time, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said.
“The crash landing of the Mumbai-Baramati charter plane occurred at the runway threshold in Baramati,” the DGCA said. Pawar was accompanied by his personal security officer, an attendant, and two crew members. Additional details are awaited as investigations proceed.
Pawar was travelling to attend a Zilla Parishad election rally. He had been in Mumbai on Tuesday for a Maharashtra Cabinet Committee on Infrastructure meeting chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
17:09 (IST) Jan 28 — PM Modi Pays Tribute to Ajit Pawar
Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to the late Ajit Pawar at an NCC event.
“A tragic plane crash has taken place in Maharashtra this morning. This accident has snatched away Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar ji and some friends from us. Ajit Dada made significant contributions to the development of Maharashtra and the country. He always worked proactively. I express my condolences to the family of Ajit Pawar ji and the families of others who lost their lives today,” said PM Modi.
17:02 (IST) Jan 28 — Funeral Plans Underway
The last rites of Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, killed in the chartered aircraft crash, will be held with full state honours on Thursday in Baramati, Pune district.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah are expected to attend the funeral, scheduled at Vidya Pratishthan ground at 11 AM, the Nationalist Congress Party said.
Leaders from across the political spectrum are expected to be present, underlining Pawar’s influence and stature in national politics.
16:50 (IST) Jan 28 — Governor, CM, Deputy CM Visit Pawar Residence
Governor Acharya Devvrat, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde visited Sunetra Pawar, wife of Ajit Pawar, in Baramati on Wednesday.
The leaders offered condolences and reviewed arrangements at the Pawar residence as the local community began gathering to pay respects.
16:39 (IST) Jan 28 — DGCA, AAIB Alerted; Investigation to Start Soon
Union Minister of Civil Aviation Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu said authorities have alerted the DGCA and the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) following the crash.
Officials are expected to reach the site shortly to secure the area and begin formal investigation procedures.
“It’s still difficult to accept that he is no more; we are not ready to believe it. It’s shocking because of the kind of leader he was. He was so strongly connected to all the common people, the poor people, and he was a very straightforward man,” the minister said.
About Ajit Pawar
Ajit Pawar was the longest-serving Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, holding the office six times under different governments. He began his political career in 1982 and was first elected to the Lok Sabha in 1991 before later vacating his seat for his uncle, Sharad Pawar.
In 2019, he led a split in the Nationalist Congress Party and joined the BJP-led government, marking one of the most significant political shifts in the state’s recent history.Ajit Pawar Plane Crash Live Updates: NCP Chief’s State Funeral on Thursday; PM Modi, Amit Shah Likely to Attend
Live Updates | January 28, 2026
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Nationalist Congress Party chief Ajit Pawar died on Wednesday morning after a chartered plane crash in Baramati. Five people on board — including the crew — were killed when the aircraft, flying from Mumbai, crash-landed at 08:45 local time, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said.
“The crash landing of the Mumbai-Baramati charter plane occurred at the runway threshold in Baramati,” the DGCA said. Pawar was accompanied by his personal security officer, an attendant, and two crew members. Additional details are awaited as investigations proceed.
Pawar was travelling to attend a Zilla Parishad election rally. He had been in Mumbai on Tuesday for a Maharashtra Cabinet Committee on Infrastructure meeting chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
17:09 (IST) Jan 28 — PM Modi Pays Tribute to Ajit Pawar
Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to the late Ajit Pawar at an NCC event.
“A tragic plane crash has taken place in Maharashtra this morning. This accident has snatched away Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar ji and some friends from us. Ajit Dada made significant contributions to the development of Maharashtra and the country. He always worked proactively. I express my condolences to the family of Ajit Pawar ji and the families of others who lost their lives today,” said PM Modi.
17:02 (IST) Jan 28 — Funeral Plans Underway
The last rites of Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, killed in the chartered aircraft crash, will be held with full state honours on Thursday in Baramati, Pune district.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah are expected to attend the funeral, scheduled at Vidya Pratishthan ground at 11 AM, the Nationalist Congress Party said.
Leaders from across the political spectrum are expected to be present, underlining Pawar’s influence and stature in national politics.
16:50 (IST) Jan 28 — Governor, CM, Deputy CM Visit Pawar Residence
Governor Acharya Devvrat, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde visited Sunetra Pawar, wife of Ajit Pawar, in Baramati on Wednesday.
The leaders offered condolences and reviewed arrangements at the Pawar residence as the local community began gathering to pay respects.
16:39 (IST) Jan 28 — DGCA, AAIB Alerted; Investigation to Start Soon
Union Minister of Civil Aviation Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu said authorities have alerted the DGCA and the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) following the crash.
Officials are expected to reach the site shortly to secure the area and begin formal investigation procedures.
“It’s still difficult to accept that he is no more; we are not ready to believe it. It’s shocking because of the kind of leader he was. He was so strongly connected to all the common people, the poor people, and he was a very straightforward man,” the minister said.
About Ajit Pawar
Ajit Pawar was the longest-serving Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, holding the office six times under different governments. He began his political career in 1982 and was first elected to the Lok Sabha in 1991 before later vacating his seat for his uncle, Sharad Pawar.
In 2019, he led a split in the Nationalist Congress Party and joined the BJP-led government, marking one of the most significant political shifts in the state’s recent history.
