Maharashtra plane crash: Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar among six dead

WEB DESK: The Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Ajit Pawar, was among those killed when a private aircraft crashed on Wednesday morning in the city of Baramati, officials confirmed.

The small plane was carrying Pawar along with four others, including two crew members. Initial reports indicated that there were no survivors.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his grief over the incident, calling Pawar’s death “shocking and deeply saddening.” He described the late deputy chief minister as a “dedicated and hardworking leader who tirelessly served the people of Maharashtra.”

Modi extended his condolences to Pawar’s family and supporters, adding that his “thoughts are with all those who lost loved ones in this tragic accident.”

Indian HAL Tejas Fighter Jet Crashes During Dubai Air Show

An Indian HAL Tejas fighter jet crashed on November 21, 2025, during a demonstration flight at Al Maktoum International Airport in Dubai, shocking spectators at the Dubai World Central air show. The incident occurred around 2:10 PM local time as the jet performed flight maneuvers. Thick black smoke rose from the crash site while emergency sirens echoed across the airfield, and rescue crews rushed to the scene.

The Indian Air Force later confirmed the crash and the death of the pilot. Initial reports indicated that the pilot was unable to eject. Authorities suspended the air show following the accident, and a court of inquiry was formed to investigate the cause.

The HAL Tejas is India’s indigenous 4.5-generation, lightweight, multi-role supersonic fighter aircraft, developed under the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) programme led by the Defence Research and Development Organisation’s (DRDO) Aeronautical Development Agency and manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). Designed for offensive air support, close combat, and ground-attack missions, the single-engine fighter entered Indian Air Force service in 2016, with its Final Operational Clearance (FOC) variant inducted in 2020.

Following the crash, the share price of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited fell by over 2.5 per cent, reflecting market concerns about the accident.

Air India Crash

On June 12, 2025, a London-bound Air India flight crashed in a densely populated area near Ahmedabad Airport, killing over 290 people and leaving only one confirmed survivor, authorities reported. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner, Flight AI 171, had 230 passengers and 12 crew members on board and went down less than a minute after takeoff.

The aircraft crashed into a residential and hospital area in the Meghani locality, causing additional casualties on the ground, including hospital staff. Among the passengers were 169 Indian nationals, 53 British, one Canadian, seven Portuguese, and 11 children.