Maharashtra: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Nationalist Congress Party chief Ajit Pawar died Wednesday morning along with four others in a jet crash in the city of Baramati, west of India.

According to Qatar News Agency, the crash occurred approximately an hour after departing Mumbai. Local media footage showed plumes of smoke and scattered debris from the incinerated aircraft, while authorities indicated that control of the plane was lost during the landing attempt in Baramati.

Pawar was en route to participate in a public rally, coinciding with the ongoing local body and village council elections.

The incident comes nearly two years after a helicopter designated to transport a Pawar party colleague, Sunil Tatkare, crashed in Pune. The region has seen multiple emergency landings in recent years, often attributed to the challenging weather conditions.