Air Crashes Claim Lives of 8 Indian Leaders at Peak of Power

• Eight prominent Indian political figures, including Sanjay Gandhi, Madhavrao Scindia, and Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, died in air accidents between 1950 and 2025.
• The article highlights a recent report of a private plane crash near Baramati involving Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, with 6 fatalities confirmed by DGCA.
• Sanjay Gandhi died in a plane crash near Delhi's Safdarjung Airport in 1980, significantly altering Congress and national politics.
• General Bipin Rawat, India's first CDS, died in an Mi-17V5 helicopter crash in Coonoor, Tamil Nadu, in 2021, a major blow to national security.
• All listed leaders were at the pinnacle of their political careers, and their sudden deaths profoundly impacted Indian politics and leadership.

Why It Matters: Air accidents have tragically cut short the careers of many influential Indian leaders, reshaping the nation's political landscape.