West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday demanded a thorough investigation into the plane crash in Maharashtra’s Baramati that killed Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, along with four others.
According to official sources, the small aircraft was flying from Mumbai to Baramati when it crashed during a landing attempt on Wednesday morning. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) confirmed that all five people on board, including the pilots and Pawar’s security personnel, died in the (accident).
In a message posted online, Mamata Banerjee said she was “deeply shocked and stunned” by the sudden demise of Ajit Pawar. She expressed condolences to the Pawar family and party workers, and specifically mentioned NCP founder Sharad Pawar, Ajit Pawar’s uncle.
“Deeply shocked and stunned by the sudden demise of Ajit Pawar. The Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra and his co-passengers have died in a disastrous plane crash at Baramati today morning. I am feeling a deep sense of loss,” Banerjee wrote. She also stressed that the incident “needs proper investigation” and called for a probe to ascertain the exact cause of the crash.
Visuals from the crash site showed heavy fire damage, smoke, and mangled remains of the aircraft. Emergency teams rushed to the area, but there were no survivors. Preliminary reports indicate that the aircraft was attempting a second approach to land when it went down, though officials have said the exact sequence of events will only be known after a detailed technical inquiry.
Condolences poured in from political leaders across party lines. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah reportedly spoke to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to inquire about the incident and offer support.
Ajit Pawar was a key political figure in Maharashtra and had taken control of the NCP following a power tussle within the party in 2023. His sudden death has sent shockwaves through the state’s political landscape, with leaders and supporters expressing grief and calling for answers into what led to the tragic crash.
