Maharashtra's Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, who praised women pilots in a 2024 tweet, died in a Jan. 28, 2026, plane crash with co-pilot Shambhavi Pathak, sparking tribute and reflection on gender equality.

A 2024 tweet by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar praising women pilots has gone viral following his death in a January 28, 2026, plane crash in Baramati. The lighthearted post, linking smooth landings to female pilots, gained poignant significance after it was revealed the co-pilot, Shambhavi Pathak, was a woman. All five on board, including Pawar, died in the Learjet 45 crash, with investigators examining poor visibility and heavy smog as possible factors. The state declared a public holiday and three days of mourning, while social media users shared the tweet as a tribute, highlighting the irony and Pawar’s advocacy for gender equality.