Ajit Pawar dies in Baramati charter plane crash; Maharashtra announces 3-day mourning and state funeral

Maharashtra deputy chief minister and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Ajit Pawar died on Wednesday, 28 January 2026, after a chartered aircraft crashed while attempting to land at Baramati airport in Pune district. Authorities said the flight had come in from Mumbai, and early reports indicated the accident occurred during the landing attempt, with the aircraft suffering severe damage and fire after impact.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced a public holiday in the state on 28 January and declared three days of state mourning. As per protocol during the mourning period, the national flag will be flown at half-mast on government buildings and all official entertainment programmes will remain cancelled. The government also said it would accord a state funeral to the late leader, and that the detailed schedule for official tributes and last rites would be finalised after discussions with Pawar’s family.

In public statements, the chief minister described Pawar as a major political figure with a long public life and said the loss would be felt across Maharashtra. Political leaders across parties issued condolences, while state officials began coordinating arrangements for security, crowd management and administrative continuity. The crash site near the runway was cordoned off as investigators and emergency teams assessed the wreckage and began collecting evidence.

Aviation authorities are expected to examine the flight’s approach, communications and weather/visibility conditions around the time of landing, along with the aircraft’s maintenance records and operational clearances. The state administration also initiated steps to inform citizens about closures and mourning-related protocols, including changes to official schedules and public events. Updates are awaited on the final timeline for the funeral ceremonies and any further directives issued by the government during the mourning period.