Indian Politician Ajit Pawar Dies in Plane Crash Investigation Ongoing

Ajit Pawar, 66, a senior politician in Maharashtra, India’s wealthiest state, died in a plane crash on Wednesday. The aircraft, carrying Pawar and four others, crashed in an open field approximately 254km from the state capital, Mumbai. The incident occurred while the plane was en route to Baramati, Pawar’s hometown.

Pawar served as the deputy chief minister of Maharashtra, holding the second-highest elected position in the state. He was a key figure in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) faction in the state government and had previously been part of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).

Born on July 22, 1959, Pawar began his political career with the Indian National Congress party in the late 1980s. He was first elected to the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly in 1991 and represented the Baramati constituency for eight terms.

Pawar’s aircraft, operated by VSR Ventures, took off from Mumbai and attempted an emergency landing at Baramati airport before crashing into an open field. The cause of the crash is currently under investigation.

Pawar was accompanied on the flight by his personal security officer, an assistant, and two crew members. Witnesses reported seeing smoke billowing from the wreckage after the plane crashed and exploded.

Source: Al Jazeera