India's PM Modi pays tribute to veteran politician killed in plane crash
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has led national tributes to Ajit Pawar, the deputy chief minister of Maharashtra, a major western Indian state, who was killed in a plane crash on Wednesday.
Modi called Pawar “a leader of the people. His untimely demise is very shocking and saddening.”
“He was widely respected as a hardworking personality at the forefront of serving the people of Maharashtra,” he wrote on X, noting Pawar’s “understanding of administrative matters and passion for empowering the poor and downtrodden.”
India's Home Minister Amit Shah, opposition leader Rahul Gandhi and several other political figures also expressed condolences.
The Maharashtra government has declared three days of state mourning. Flags will be lowered to half-mast, and schools and government offices will remain closed.
Pawar was among five people killed when a private aircraft flying from Mumbai to his hometown of Baramati crashed into a field and burst into flames shortly after takeoff.
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
Images from the scene showed smoke rising from the burning wreckage of the aircraft.
The cause of the crash is not yet known, and an investigation is underway. India’s Civil Aviation Minister noted that visibility at the airport was poor at the time of the accident.
Pawar, 66, was one of Maharashtra’s most influential leaders, serving in a coalition with India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He belonged to one of the state’s most powerful political dynasties, which has shaped Maharashtra’s politics for generations.
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