The sudden passing of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar has once again cast a somber light on the risks associated with VIP air travel in India. His death adds a tragic new chapter to a history of aviation accidents that have claimed the lives of some of the country’s most influential political figures over the last three decades.
From Chief Ministers to Union Ministers, these tragedies have not only resulted in the loss of leadership but have also reshaped the political landscape of their respective states and the nation. Here is a look at six prominent leaders who died in air tragedies between 2001 and 2026.
Ajit Pawar (2026)
In January 2026, Maharashtra was plunged into mourning following the death of its Deputy Chief Minister, Ajit Pawar. The veteran leader died when his aircraft crashed near Baramati during a landing attempt. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation confirmed that Pawar and four others on board were killed in the incident. Known as a powerhouse of Maharashtra politics, his untimely demise occurred while he was travelling to his political stronghold, leaving a significant void in the state's administration.
Vijay Rupani (2025)
A year prior to the Baramati tragedy, former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani lost his life in one of the most devastating commercial aviation accidents in recent years. Rupani was a passenger on Air India Flight 171, which was bound for London. The aircraft crashed shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad, resulting in a massive loss of life. As a senior leader of the BJP, his death was felt deeply across Gujarat, where he had served as the head of government for five years.
Dorjee Khandu (2011)
The northeastern state of Arunachal Pradesh suffered a major blow on 30 April 2011, when Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu died in a helicopter crash. The aircraft went missing between Kyela and Luguthang while navigating the treacherous, mountainous terrain of the region. After several days of searching, the wreckage was located, confirming that Khandu and four others had perished. His leadership was credited with bringing stability and development to the frontier state.
YS Rajasekhara Reddy (2009)
Yeduguri Sandinti Rajasekhara Reddy, the charismatic Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh widely known as YSR, died in a helicopter crash on 2 September 2009. His Bell 430 helicopter went down in the dense Nallamala Hills during a period of inclement weather. The incident triggered a massive search operation before the wreckage was found. The death of YSR, who was a champion of welfare schemes, led to an unprecedented wave of public grief across the state.
GMC Balayogi (2002)
Ganti Mohana Chandra Balayogi, the Speaker of the Lok Sabha, met a tragic end on 3 March 2002. He was travelling in a private helicopter in the Krishna district of Andhra Pradesh when the pilot attempted an emergency landing in a pond near Kovvadalanka village. The crash claimed the lives of everyone on board. As the first Dalit leader to serve as Speaker, Balayogi was respected across party lines for his dignity and fair conduct in Parliament.
Madhavrao Scindia (2001)
On 30 September 2001, India lost one of its most prominent national leaders, Madhavrao Scindia. The former Minister of Civil Aviation and senior Congress leader died when his private plane crashed near Mainpuri in Uttar Pradesh. Scindia was on his way to Kanpur to address a political rally at the time of the accident. A member of the Gwalior royal family, he was widely regarded as a future candidate for the prime ministership, making his death a monumental loss for Indian democracy.
