In a tragic incident, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar died after the aircraft he was traveling in met with an accident in Baramati, on Wednesday morning. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has formally confirmed the passing of the senior NCP leader.
The crash occurred around 8:45 a.m., when the aircraft carrying Pawar and his team attempted an emergency landing in Baramati.
Over the years, India has lost several politicians to air accidents. Here's a look back at some prominent names.
- 2025 – Vijay Rupani
Former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani was among 241 people who died when an Air India Boeing 787‑8 Dreamliner crashed shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad. The London‑bound aircraft went down on a medical college hostel and burst into flames. Rupani, 68, was reportedly traveling to visit his family in the UK.
- 2011 – Dorjee Khandu
Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu died on April 30, 2011, when his Pawan Hans helicopter crashed in a remote region near the China border. The wreckage was located five days later.
- 2009 – YS Rajasekhara Reddy
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy, widely known as YSR, died on September 2, 2009, after his helicopter went down in the Nallamala Hills. The aircraft was found a day later following an extensive search.
- 2005 – OP Jindal and Surender Singh
Industrialist and Haryana Power Minister OP Jindal, along with former Union Minister Surender Singh—son of former President Shankar Dayal Sharma—died on March 31, 2005, when their helicopter crashed in Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh.
- 2004 – Cyprian Sangma
Meghalaya Rural Development Minister Cyprian Sangma and nine others died on September 22, 2004, when a Pawan Hans helicopter heading from Guwahati to Shillong crashed near Barapani Lake, about 20 km from the state capital.
- 2002 – GMC Balayogi
Lok Sabha Speaker and TDP leader GMC Balayogi died on March 3, 2002, when his helicopter crashed in the West Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh, reportedly due to a mechanical issue mid‑flight.
- 2001 – Madhavrao Scindia
Senior Congress leader Madhavrao Scindia, a prominent national figure and member of the Gwalior royal family, died on September 30, 2001, after his chartered aircraft crashed in Bhogaon, Mainpuri district of Uttar Pradesh. He was on his way to address a rally in Kanpur, and all passengers were killed.
- 1980 – Sanjay Gandhi
Sanjay Gandhi, son of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and once seen as her political successor, died on June 23, 1980, when the two‑seater aircraft he was piloting crashed during a test flight near Delhi's Safdarjung Airport. He was 33.
- 1973 – Gurnam Singh
Former Punjab Chief Minister Gurnam Singh is reported to have died in a plane crash in Delhi on May 31, 1973.
1965 – Balwantrai Mehta
Balwantrai Mehta, Gujarat's second Chief Minister, was killed during the 1965 Indo‑Pakistan war when a Pakistani Air Force jet mistakenly shot down the civilian aircraft he was traveling in near the border.
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