ISLAMABAD: Indian media on Wednesday reported that a privately operated chartered plane crashed while attempting an emergency landing near Baramati in Maharashtra, killing five people on board, with some outlets claiming that Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar was travelling on the aircraft.

According to NDTV and other Indian news channels, the plane had departed from Mumbai and was heading to Baramati, around 250 kilometres away, where Pawar was scheduled to campaign for the upcoming elections. The aircraft reportedly crashed during its approach to Runway 11 at around 8:48am (IST) and burst into flames.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said that five people were on board the aircraft, including two pilots and security personnel. Indian media identified the deceased pilots as Sumit Kapur and Shambhavi Pathak, while a member of the politician’s security staff, Vidhit Jadhav, was also reported among the dead.

Video footage aired by local television channels showed thick plumes of smoke rising from burning wreckage scattered across an open field near the runway.

VK Singh, director of VSR Ventures, told India Today that the aircraft crashed during its final approach, adding that the cause of the accident was not immediately clear. “The crew was fairly experienced,” he said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a post on X, termed the incident “shocking and saddening,” while political leaders across party lines expressed grief over the reported loss of lives.

Indian authorities have launched an investigation into the crash. An official confirmation regarding the identities of all those on board, including reports about Ajit Pawar, is awaited.