Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar has died in a plane crash. This is the second time in the last 7 months that a prominent leader of the country has died in a plane crash. In June 2025, former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani died in a plane crash. So far in the history of India, 7 big leaders have died in plane or helicopter crashes. Of these, 3 (Balvantrai Mehta, Dorji Khandu and Y Rajasekhar Reddy) held the post of Chief Minister.
Balwantrai Mehta- Was the Chief Minister of Gujarat from 1963 to 1965. During the 1965 war, Mehta was flying for inspection in the Rann of Kutch. During this time Pakistan shot down his plane. Mehta, Mehta's wife, three of his employees, a journalist and two crew members died in the accident. Mehta was the first big politician who died in a plane crash.
Sanjay Gandhi- On June 23, 1980, the then Congress MP Sanjay Gandhi left for Delhi to fly. Sanjay was fond of flying planes. When Sanjay took off in the plane at 10 in the morning, his plane crashed while performing a stunt. Along with Sanjay, his co-passenger Subhash Saxena also died in this accident.
Madhavrao Scindia- Senior Congress leader Madhavrao Scindia also died in the plane crash. On September 30, 2001, Scindia was going to participate in a rally in Kanpur. During this time his plane crashed near Motagaon in Mainpuri. Scindia died in this accident. Scindia was 56 years old at that time.
G.M.C. Balyogi- Ganti Mohana Chandra Balayogi died while holding the post of Lok Sabha Speaker. Actually, Balayogi died in a helicopter crash. In 2002, his helicopter crashed while going to a program in Andhra. In this accident, Balayogi's security officer D. Satya Raju and pilot Captain G.V. Menon died on the spot.
Y Rajasekhara Reddy- Another accident occurred in Andhra in 2009. This time Chief Minister Y Rajasekhara Reddy became the victim of the accident. Actually, in September 2009, Reddy was passing through Nallamala area of Andhra along with his officers. During this time his helicopter crashed. It was also claimed in many media that his helicopter might have been shot down by Naxalites. However, the government had rejected this claim at that time.
Vijay Rupani- On June 12, 2025, an Air India plane crashed after taking off from Ahmedabad. Vijay Rupani was also on board this plane. Rupani was the former Chief Minister of Gujarat. When the list of dead came in the evening, Vijay Rupani's name was also included in it. Rupani was going to London to meet his family members.
Dorji Khandu- Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Dorji Khandu also died in a plane crash in 2011. Khandu was 56 years old at that time. Khandu was going from Tawang towards the capital Itanagar. Then his plane went missing.
