Indian cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar expressed deep sorrow over the death of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who was killed in a tragic plane crash on Wednesday morning. Tendulkar paid tribute to Pawar’s public service, calling his death a huge loss for the state.
Tendulkar shared his condolences in a post on X shortly after the news broke, remembering Pawar as a committed leader who worked for people across Maharashtra.
“Very sad to learn about the untimely demise of Shri Ajit Pawar ji. Maharashtra has lost a dedicated leader who worked for the people, across the state. My heartfelt condolences to his family and friends. Om Shanti,” Tendulkar wrote.
How did Ajit Pawar die?
Ajit Pawar, who also served as chief of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), died after the chartered aircraft he was travelling in crashed during an emergency landing attempt at Baramati airport. The crash occurred as the plane was trying to land for a second time after facing technical trouble. Along with Pawar, the two pilots and his two security personnel, including a personal security officer and an attendant, also lost their lives.
Pawar was en route to Baramati to address four public meetings ahead of the Zilla Parishad elections when the incident took place.
The aircraft, a Bombardier Learjet 45 chartered from Mumbai and operated by Delhi-based company VSR, crashed near Baramati airport while attempting a second emergency landing. Pawar was travelling to address four public meetings ahead of the Zilla Parishad elections when the incident occurred, claiming the lives of all five people on board.
Visuals from the site showed the aircraft completely gutted by fire, with debris scattered across the area and thick smoke rising from the wreckage. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation later confirmed Ajit Pawar’s death and said a detailed investigation would be conducted to determine the cause of the crash, as tributes continued to pour in from across the country.
