A private plane crashes in western India and kills a deputy chief minister and 4 others

NEW DELHI (AP) — Private plane carrying the deputy prime minister crashed into open ground in the west India Aviation authorities said the official and four other people on the ship died in the incident that occurred on Wednesday. There were no survivors.

The plane was en route from India’s financial capital Mumbai to Ajit Pawar’s hometown of Baramati when it crash-landed and burst into flames about 254 kilometers (159 miles) from Mumbai. The cause of the crash was not immediately known. Television footage showed smoke rising from the debris.

Pawar, 66, was the deputy chief minister of India’s western state of Maharashtra. He was on his way to Baramati for local election campaign when the privately operated plane crashed.

In the first statement made by the directorate general of civil aviation, it was stated that two personnel and two crew members on the medium-sized Learjet 45 lost their lives.

Pawar was a prominent figure in state politics and served as the second-highest elected official in Maharashtra, part of the Prime Minister of India. Narendra Modi’s ruling coalition in the state. He had considerable influence in the state’s sugar belt and was known for his ability to mobilize rural voters.

Modi expressed his condolences to Pawar, calling him a committed public servant.

“His understanding of administrative matters and his passion for empowering the poor and oppressed were also remarkable,” Modi told X. “His untimely death is very shocking and saddening. We offer our condolences to his family and countless fans.”