Indian political and public life plunged into deep grief today after Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar died in a plane crash at Baramati Airport. The tragic incident during landing claimed all lives on board, marking one of the latest in a long list of high-profile air accidents involving Indian leaders and notable personalities.
From dramatic charter-jet emergencies to disastrous helicopter and commercial airline accidents, India has witnessed several such tragedies that cut short the lives of its prominent figures. Here’s a look at some of the most consequential losses over decades.
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar Dies in Plane Crash
January 28, 2026: Ajit Pawar, the long-serving Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra and leader of the Nationalist Congress Party, was killed when the chartered Learjet 45 aircraft he was travelling in crash-landed while attempting to land at Baramati Airport in the Pune district. All five people on board, including two pilots, Pawar’s personal security officer, and an attendant, died in the blaze.
Pawar, 66, had been on his way to attend political events ahead of local elections. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) confirmed there were no survivors. The tragedy has drawn nationwide condolences from political leaders and citizens alike.
Indian Leaders Who Lost Their Lives in Air Crashes
1. Sanjay Gandhi (1980)
One of the earliest and most impactful losses was Congress leader Sanjay Gandhi, the younger son of then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. On June 23, 1980, Gandhi died when the private aircraft he was piloting lost control during aerobatic manoeuvres near Safdarjung Airport in Delhi. His sudden death at 33 profoundly changed political trajectories within the country.
2. Madhavrao Scindia (2001)
Senior Congress leader and former Civil Aviation Minister Madhavrao Scindia died on September 30, 2001, when his private plane crashed near Mainpuri, Uttar Pradesh, due to poor weather while en route to a political rally in Kanpur. All on board, including journalists and staff, were killed in the crash.
YS Rajasekhara Reddy (2009)
YS Reddy, the then Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, tragically lost his life on September 2, 2009, when the helicopter carrying him went missing over the Nallamala forest. His death was later confirmed after the wreckage was discovered, and all aboard, including Reddy and his team, were pronounced dead.
Other High-Profile Aviation Tragedies
3. Bipin Rawat (2021)
General Bipin Rawat, India’s first Chief of Defence Staff, died in an Mi-17V5 helicopter crash on December 8, 2021, near Coonoor, Tamil Nadu, along with his wife and other defence personnel. The helicopter crashed minutes before landing, killing everyone on board.
4. Former Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani (2025)
In June 2025, Vijay Rupani, the former Chief Minister of Gujarat, was among the passengers killed when Air India Flight AI-171, bound for London, crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad. The tragedy claimed over 200 lives, including Rupani’s.
5. G. M. C. Balayogi (2002)
Former Lok Sabha Speaker G. M. C. Balayogi died on March 3, 2002, when the helicopter he was travelling in crashed in Krishna district, Andhra Pradesh due to rotor strikes.
6. KS Sowmya (2004)
Actor and political worker KS Sowmya, known as “Soundarya”, died in a plane crash on April 17, 2004, while flying from Bangalore to Karimnagar for a BJP campaign event.
7. Dorjee Khandu (2011)
Dorjee Khandu, then Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh, was found dead on May 5, 2011, days after the helicopter he was aboard went missing near the China border.
8. Om Prakash Jindal and Surender Singh (2005)
Industrialist and Haryana minister Om Prakash Jindal died in a helicopter crash near Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh, along with fellow minister Surender Singh, cutting short the life of a senior leader and businessman.
Each loss has deeply affected India’s political landscape
These air tragedies are more than just isolated accidents. Each loss has deeply affected India’s political landscape, triggering shifts in leadership, impacting election dynamics, and briefly uniting opposing parties in grief. From unexpected helicopter disappearances to high-profile commercial crashes, each event reveals the risks inherent even for prominent leaders.
The death of Ajit Pawar marks the latest addition to this sombre list, reminding the nation of how sudden and devastating aviation accidents can be.
