New Delhi, Jan. 28 -- Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar died on Wednesday after the aircraft he was travelling in crashed while attempting to land in Baramati. The Nationalist Congress Party leader was scheduled to address four political rallies ahead of the upcoming Zilla Parishad elections.

Confirming the fatalities, the civil aviation ministry said in an official release: "There were a total of 05 persons on board including 02 crew members. The passengers included Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra Shri Ajit Pawar. All the occupants of the aircrafts received fatal injuries."

The ministry noted that Baramati is classified as an uncontrolled airfield, where air traffic information is shared by instructors or pilots from fl...