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technical fault was detected in Maharashtra Minister Pankaja Munde's helicopter. It is reported that the fault occurred before taking off from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. The incident comes just days after former Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar's death in a plane crash. According to sources, Pankaja Munde was scheduled to fly from Sambhajinagar to Latur by helicopter to campaign for the Zilla Parishad elections. However, the pilot reported a technical problem, following which the take-off was aborted. The Minister has postponed her Latur trip.
Ajit Pawar dies in plane crash
Ajit Pawar, 66, died on the morning of January 28 after the aircraft carrying him crashed while attempting to land at the Baramati airport in Pune district. Among the deceased were his personal security officer, a flight attendant and two pilots. The crash took place at around 8.48 am. Pawar was travelling from Mumbai to Baramati to campaign for the Zilla Parishad elections.His last rites were held with full state honours on Thursday at the Vidya Pratishthan ground in Baramati. His sons lit the funeral pyre and performed the final rituals.The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has initiated a formal investigation into the accident that claimed the lives of Ajit Pawar and four others.His death has raised speculation about a possible merger between the two NCP factions.
(This is a developing story)