A politician and four others were killed when a private jet crashed in India today.

The Learjet 45, registered VT-SSK, had departed from Mumbai and was attempting to land at Baramati Airport when it crash-landed at around 8:48 am local time.

Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar was en route to Baramati to attend a series of public meetings ahead of the upcoming local body elections.

Two members of Pawar's staff and two crew members also perished in the crash.

Footage shows flames and thick smoke rising from the crash site as emergency responders and volunteers assessed the scene.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said: 'Shri Ajit Pawar Ji was a leader of the people, having a strong grassroots level connect. He was widely respected as a hardworking personality at the forefront of serving the people of Maharashtra.

'His understanding of administrative matters and passion for empowering the poor and downtrodden were also noteworthy. His untimely demise is very shocking and saddening. Condolences to his family and countless admirers. Om Shanti.'

Local media reported that the pilot lost control during the landing attempt, causing the aircraft to crash on the runway and burst into flames.

Flight tracking data showed the chartered jet was making a second approach to Baramati Airport at the time of the crash.

Pawar, the nephew of veteran politician Sharad Pawar, founder of the Nationalist Congress Party, was a key political figure in Maharashtra. He had a long political career spanning several decades and served multiple terms as the state's deputy chief minister.

An investigation into the cause of the crash is ongoing.