Dhaka, Jan. 28 -- Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and four others were killed when a small aircraft carrying them crashed in India's Pune district on Wednesday morning.

The privately operated chartered plane had taken off from Mumbai and was heading to Baramati, where Pawar was scheduled to attend four public meetings ahead of the local body elections, NDTV reports citing PTI.

According to preliminary findings by India's aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the aircraft developed technical problems and became unstable while making its final approach around 8:45am. The pilot reportedly lost control during landing, causing the plane to crash on the runway and catch fire.

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