Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Ajit Pawar, aged 66, died in a plane crash while traveling from Mumbai to Baramati to attend rallies for the upcoming Zilla Parishad elections 2026. The Learjet 45 aircraft (VT-SSK), operated by VSR Ventures Pvt Ltd, took off at 8:10 am but crashed while attempting to land at Baramati airstrip around 8:45 am.
The crash claimed the lives of all five people on board, including Pawar, his Personal Security Officer (PSO) Vidip Jadhav, flight attendant Pinki Mali, staff member Sumit Kapoor, and pilots Captain Sahil Madan and the First Officer. The aircraft burst into flames on impact, leaving no survivors.
Who Was PSO Vidip Jadhav?
Vidip Jadhav, a Mumbai Police Constable from the 2009 batch, was serving as the Personal Security Officer (PSO) to Ajit Pawar. Known for his dedication, Jadhav was performing his duty when the tragic accident occurred.
He had been assigned to protect Pawar during his campaign for the Zilla Parishad and Panchayat Samiti elections. His sacrifice has drawn tributes from colleagues and leaders, who described him as a committed officer who always put duty first.
Who Was On Board With Ajit Pawar?
According to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the passengers included:
- Ajit Pawar (Deputy CM, NCP Chief)
- Vidip Jadhav (PSO, Mumbai Police Constable)
- Pinki Mali (Flight Attendant)
- Sumit Kapoor (Staff Member)
- Captain Sahil Madan (Pilot-in-Command)
- First Officer (Co-Pilot)
Authorities are investigating the cause of the crash, while rescue teams rushed to the site.
Who was Sumit Kapoor? Pilot-in-Command
Captain Sumit Kapoor served as the Pilot‑in‑Command (PIC) on the ill‑fated flight. As the senior pilot, he led the flight crew and made decisions during critical phases of flight, including take‑off and landing.
Who was Shambhavi Pathak?
Shambhavi Pathak was the First Officer (FO), supporting Captain Kapoor in controlling the aircraft. As the co‑pilot, she helped monitor flight instruments, communicate with air traffic control and take part in flight decisions.
Maharashtra Mourns Ajit Pawar and His Team
The sudden death of Ajit Pawar has left a deep void in Maharashtra politics. His wife, Sunetra Pawar, and sister, Supriya Sule, rushed to the crash site, while the state government announced three days of mourning.
Political leaders across India, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis, expressed condolences. Citizens in Baramati and across the state gathered to pay respects to the leader who had shaped Maharashtra’s cooperative sector and governance for decades.
