Ajit Pawar Plane Crash: Rajesh Tope First to Receive Information About Incident in Baramati

Ajit Pawar had left Mumbai for Baramati in a private aircraft on Wednesday morning (January 28). The plane crashed while attempting to land at Baramati airport, killing all five people on board, including Pawar. The incident occurred around 8.45 am. Initially, no official information was available about the crash, but details began emerging shortly thereafter.

Former minister and senior leader from the Sharad Pawar group, Rajesh Tope, was among the first to receive information about the accident. He later spoke about how he learned of the crash.

What Rajesh Tope Said

“Even before the media came to know about the accident, I had received information. A young man from our district who works in the store room at Baramati airport called me in the morning and informed me that Ajit Pawar’s plane had crashed. He said only the tail section of the aircraft was visible and the rest had been completely burnt,” Tope said. Rajesh Tope became emotional while stating that the loss felt like losing his own father and brother.

Jalna, Maharashtra: On Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar's death in plane crash, NCP (SP) leader and former minister Rajesh Tope says, "When I received the news of Ajit Dada’s death this morning, I felt immense sorrow. It is an extremely unfortunate incident. I would call this a… pic.twitter.com/1zdxZfQWvP

— IANS (@ians_india) January 28, 2026

Family Rushed to Baramati

At the time of the crash, several members of the Pawar family were in Delhi. Supriya Sule and Sunetra Pawar were attending the Budget Session of Parliament, while Parth Pawar was also present in the capital. As soon as news of the accident emerged, the family rushed to Baramati. 

Also Read | Ajit Pawar Plane Crash VIDEO: New CCTV Footage of Maharashtra Deputy CM’s Aircraft in Baramati Surfaces.

Funeral Schedule

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar will be cremated with state honours today, January 29, at the Vidya Pratishthan grounds in Baramati. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP National President Nitin Nabin, and several other senior leaders are expected to attend the funeral. A large crowd has gathered in Baramati since Wednesday to pay their last respects to Ajit Pawar.

Mortal remains of Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar will be kept at his residence in Katewadi, Baramati, until 9 am, police officials said. It will then be taken to GA.DI.MA. Sabhagruha. The funeral procession will begin at 9 am and proceed to the Vidya Pratishthan grounds, where the cremation will take place at 11 am.