Maharashtra politics was plunged into turmoil today as a plane carrying Deputy CM Ajit Pawar crashed during an emergency landing in Baramati. The 9 AM mishap, barely an hour into the flight from Mumbai, resulted in a fiery wreck that claimed six lives, according to DGCA officials.
Images from the site show the aircraft engulfed in flames, with twisted metal strewn across the tarmac. Rescue operations were swift, but the toll was heavy: several injured passengers were rushed to hospitals, their conditions critical. Pawar, heading to Baramati for pre-election rallies, was the high-profile passenger whose presence amplified the drama.
As NCP workers gathered anxiously outside hospitals, questions swirled about the crash’s trigger. Was it engine trouble, adverse weather, or a landing gear malfunction? Aviation experts are poring over black box data, while political rivals and allies alike suspended campaigns to focus on the unfolding crisis.
Pawar’s Baramati base, a family bastion synonymous with sugar cooperatives and political clout, witnessed unprecedented scenes of grief. Local leaders coordinated relief efforts, even as rumors of Pawar’s status fueled social media frenzy. This event not only disrupts NCP’s election strategy but also highlights safety gaps in regional airports handling VIP traffic.
Broader implications loom for Maharashtra’s coalition government, already strained by internal rifts. With local polls on the horizon, the crash could reshape alliances and voter sentiments. As the sun set on the smoldering wreckage, India awaited clarity on one of its most influential leaders’ fate.