Mumbai, January 28: Ajit Pawar passed away in a tragic plane crash on Wednesday morning, January 28, in Baramati. The Maharashtra state government has announced that the last rites of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar will be performed with full state honours on Thursday, January 29, 2026.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has declared three days of state mourning and a public holiday to mark the passing of the veteran leader, affectionately known as "Dada." Ajit Pawar's mortal remains will be kept for public viewing in Baramati before the final procession moves toward his native village, Katewadi, for the cremation. How Ajit Pawar’s Plane Crashed? Minute-by-Minute Sequence of Events.

Ajit Pawar Funeral Schedule and Arrangements

The mortal remains of Ajit Pawar were shifted on Wednesday afternoon from the Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Government Medical College to the Vidya Pratishthan ground in Baramati.

  • Public Darshan: His remains will lie in state at the Vidya Pratishthan ground until 9:00 PM on Wednesday and briefly on Thursday morning for public homage.

  • Final Rites: The cremation is scheduled to take place at the same ground on Thursday, January 29, at 11:00 AM.

  • Venue: While initial reports mentioned his native village, Katewadi, the official state funeral and cremation ceremony will be held at the Vidya Pratishthan premises in Baramati to accommodate the massive expected crowd.

Who May Attend the Funeral?

The funeral is expected to be one of the largest political gatherings in the state’s recent history. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah are expected to travel to Baramati to pay their final respects, alongside Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis. Ajit Pawar, ‘Dada’ in Maharashtra Politics and an Able Administrator, Is No More.

Security has been significantly tightened across Pune district, with over 3,000 police personnel deployed to manage the influx of supporters and high-profile dignitaries.

Ajit Pawar Plane Crash Details

On the morning of January 28, 2026, at approximately 8:45 AM, a chartered Bombardier Learjet 45 (registration VT-SSK) carrying Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar crashed at Baramati Airport, killing all five people on board. The aircraft, operated by Delhi-based VSR Aviation, took off from Mumbai at 8:10 AM and was attempting its second landing approach in conditions of poor visibility when it veered off the runway, struck the ground, and erupted into a massive ball of fire.

Eyewitnesses reported seeing the jet appear "unstable" during its descent, followed by four to five consecutive explosions upon impact. The victims included Pawar, his Personal Security Officer Vidip Jadhav, an attendant Pinky Mali, Pilot-in-Command Captain Sumit Kapoor, and First Officer Captain Shambhavi Pathak. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) and the DGCA have launched a high-level probe to determine whether the crash was caused by technical failure or the lack of an Instrument Landing System (ILS) at the Baramati airstrip.

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(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 28, 2026 04:54 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).