A chartered plane carrying Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and NCP chief Ajit Pawar crashed while attempting an emergency landing at Baramati airport, killing everyone on board. All six people on board were killed, including Ajit Pawar, his personal security officer, two pilots, and other crew members. Visuals from the crash site showed scattered debris, with thick smoke and flames rising from the wreckage.
Who was Captain Shambhavi Pathak?
Captain Shambhavi Pathak was one of the two pilots operating the ill-fated Learjet 45 and served as the Pilot-in-Command at the time of the crash. She was one of the six people who lost their lives in the tragic plane accident near Baramati.
As per a report by India Today, Captain Pathak came from a defence background and was the daughter of an Army officer. According to her LinkedIn account, she completed her schooling at Air Force Bal Bharati School, an institution known for educating children of defence personnel. She later pursued a Bachelor of Science degree in Aeronautics, Aviation, and Aerospace Science and Technology from the University of Mumbai, laying a strong academic foundation in aviation studies.
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To further her professional training, she enrolled at the New Zealand International Commercial Pilot Academy, where she completed her commercial pilot training.
An experienced aviation professional
Captain Pathak was part of a two-member cockpit crew, flying alongside Captain Sumit Kapoor. Aviation officials associated with VSR Aviation described her as a trained and capable pilot with experience on the Learjet 45 aircraft. She had logged approximately 1,500 flying hours, according to preliminary information shared by the operator.
“The aircraft was absolutely fit to the best of our knowledge. There was no technical failure. It was very well maintained,” VSR Aviation officials VK Singh told reporters. “Primarily, it appears there was no visibility. The pilot made an approach to the runway, carried out a missed approach, and then made another attempt. If a pilot cannot see the runway, he will carry out a missed approach”, he further said.
Singh, recalling his personal bond with the pilots, said, “Captain Sumit Kapoor was a very dear friend of mine. His son is also a pilot with us. Captain Shambhavi was like my child to me. Both of them were extremely good human beings and extremely good pilots. They were from Delhi.”
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has initiated a comprehensive probe into the crash, examining weather conditions, flight data, and operational procedures.
