India's Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar among 5 killed in plane crash

India's Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Ajit Pawar was among four people killed when his private plane crashed while attempting to land at Baramati Airport in Pune district on Wednesday morning (January 28).

According to Indian media outlet NDTV, the aircraft caught fire immediately after the crash.

Footage from the scene showed the plane engulfed in flames. Firefighters worked to control the blaze, and police arrived at the site, though no official government statement has been issued so far.

The plane carried Ajit Pawar, his personal security officer (PSO), an assistant, and two crew members, all of whom were killed in the accident.

Initial reports indicate that Pawar had departed from Mumbai around 8:00am to campaign for party candidates in the district council elections, with four election rallies scheduled in Baramati. The crash involved a Learjet 45 operated by VSR Ventures, NDTV reported.

Authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the crash, and rescue operations are ongoing.