The shocking plane crash in Baramati has claimed the life of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, sending ripples of grief across the nation. The 66-year-old NCP leader was en route from Mumbai to address four rallies ahead of district council elections when his chartered aircraft veered off the runway during landing, killing all five on board.
This tragedy revives painful memories of other prominent figures lost to aviation mishaps. From politicians to film stars, the skies have proven unforgiving for many.
South Indian superstar Soundarya, famed for her role in Suryavansham, perished in a 2004 crash near Bengaluru. The 32-year-old, who was pregnant at the time, was flying to Karimnagar with her brother Amarnath, BJP worker Ramesh Kadam, and pilot Joy Phillips. The plane plummeted minutes after takeoff, erupting in flames.
Actor Omkar, known for playing the elder brother in the blockbuster Nadiya Ke Paar, met a similar fate while traveling to London with his family.
Child prodigy Taruni Sachdev, the ‘Rasna Girl’ who shared screen space with Amitabh Bachchan in Pa, died at 14 in a 2012 Nepal crash alongside her mother, just before her birthday.
Political heavyweights haven’t been spared either. Congress veteran Madhavrao Scindia’s private jet crashed in bad weather near Mainpuri in 2001 en route to a Kanpur rally, killing all eight aboard. Lok Sabha Speaker GMC Balayogi lost his life in a 2002 helicopter plunge into a pond. Sanjay Gandhi’s aerobatic stunt ended disastrously in 1980 near Safdarjung Airport.
Gujarat ex-CM Vijay Rupani was among 241 victims in a 2025 Air India crash post-takeoff from Ahmedabad. Andhra Pradesh CM YS Rajasekhara Reddy’s chopper vanished into Nallamala forests in 2009 due to mechanical failure.
These incidents underscore the perils of air travel for India’s elite, prompting calls for stricter safety protocols. As investigations into Pawar’s crash begin, the nation mourns yet another irreplaceable loss.