Plane Crash: The death of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in a plane crash near Baramati has once again drawn attention to a tragic chapter in India’s political history, one marked by numerous air accidents that have claimed the lives of prominent Indian public figures.
For decades, India has witnessed several such tragedies involving planes and helicopters, each giving rise to investigations and national mourning. Many of India’s top leaders have lost their lives in these accidents. The country is stunned that such accidents are still occurring in this modern age. Such tragedies are a matter of concern for the nation.
Below is a timeline of prominent Indian politicians and public figures who lost their lives in air accidents, illustrating both the personal loss and the broader institutional impact of these events.
Deeply saddened by the tragic loss of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and NCP leader #AjitPawar in this morning’s plane crash. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, colleagues, and all those affected. May the departed souls rest in peace. 🙏#PlaneCrash #Baramati pic.twitter.com/kNufw4HGK5
— RAM (@Ind_RAM_) January 28, 2026
Ajit Pawar (2026)
Ajit Anantrao Pawar, a veteran leader of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Maharashtra’s longest-serving non-consecutive Deputy Chief Minister, died on January 28, 2026, when a chartered Learjet 45 aircraft crashed while attempting to land near Baramati in Pune district.
Pawar, along with security personnel and crew members, was on board the aircraft returning from Mumbai. Initial statements from the aviation regulator indicated that all those on board were killed. The 66-year-old Pawar was widely considered an influential architect of Maharashtra’s financial and administrative policy, and his death created a significant void in state politics.
Vijay Rupani (2025)
Former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani died on June 12, 2025, when Air India Flight AI-171 crashed shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad en route to London.
The Airbus aircraft was carrying more than 240 passengers. Rupani’s remains were identified through DNA matching, and a day of state mourning was observed in Gujarat. Investigators examined aircraft systems, weather conditions, and air traffic communications as part of the ongoing investigation.
Dorjee Khandu (2011)
Dorjee Khandu, the then Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh, died in a helicopter crash on April 30, 2011, while flying over a remote mountainous area near Tawang.
Contact with the helicopter was lost shortly after takeoff. After a multi-day search operation conducted by the armed forces, the wreckage was found at a high altitude in a dense forest. The investigation cited bad weather and challenging terrain as contributing factors.
Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy (2009)
Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, popularly known as YSR, was serving as the Chief Minister of undivided Andhra Pradesh when he died in a Bell 430 helicopter crash on September 2, 2009.
The helicopter went missing while en route from Hyderabad to Chittoor and was later found in the Nallamala forest. Investigators concluded that the helicopter crashed due to bad weather and low visibility. His death triggered widespread grief and significant political changes in the state.
Om Prakash Jindal and Surender Singh (2005)
Om Prakash Jindal, the then Power Minister of Haryana, and Surender Singh, the then Agriculture Minister, died in a King Cobra helicopter crash near Saharanpur in Uttar Pradesh on March 3, 2005.
The helicopter was en route from Delhi to Chandigarh. Investigators attributed the crash to a technical malfunction and poor visibility.
G.M.C. Balayogi (2002)
G.M.C. Balayogi, the then Speaker of the Lok Sabha, died in a Bell 206 helicopter crash in Krishna district of Andhra Pradesh on March 3, 2002.
Bad weather was cited as a major contributing factor. Balayogi’s death was a rare constitutional moment, as no sitting Speaker had ever died in a plane crash before.
Madhavrao Scindia (2001)
Senior Congress leader and Union Minister Madhavrao Scindia died in a Beechcraft C90 aircraft crash on September 30, 2001, while en route from Delhi to Kanpur.
Engine failure, along with inclement weather, was cited as a possible cause. His death had a long-lasting impact on Congress politics in Madhya Pradesh and at the national level.
Sanjay Gandhi (1980)
One of the earliest and most remembered incidents involves Sanjay Gandhi, who died on June 23, 1980, when the light aircraft he was piloting crashed near Safdarjung Airport in New Delhi.
The cause of the crash was attributed to pilot error and spatial disorientation. Gandhi’s death altered the political landscape in the country during a crucial period.
General Bipin Rawat (2021)
India’s first Chief of Defence Staff, Bipin Rawat, and his wife Madhulika Rawat died on December 8, 2021, in an Mi-17V5 helicopter crash near Coonoor in Tamil Nadu.
The helicopter was en route from Sulur Air Force Base to Wellington when it crashed in a hilly area. A subsequent tri-service inquiry attributed the crash to pilot disorientation due to sudden changes in weather. Thirteen of the fourteen people on board perished, leading to national mourning and a state funeral with full military honors.