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Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar died in a tragic aircraft crash on Wednesday morning, officials said. The plane carrying him lost balance while attempting to land at Baramati airport in Pune district.
Ajit Pawar, 66, a veteran politician and one of the most prominent leaders in Maharashtra, was on board a chartered Learjet 45 aircraft that departed from Mumbai for Baramati, where he was scheduled to attend political meetings. The crash occurred at around 8:10 am.
The officials confirmed that all five people, includingPawar, his security staff Vidhit Jadhav, two pilots Sumit Kapur and Shambhavi Pathak, and flight attendant Pinki Jadhav, died in the plane crash.
All you need to know about people onboard Learjet 45
Shambhavi Pathak
Daughter of an Army officer, Shambhavi was the first officer to serve as a co‑pilot on a Learjet in India. She completed his schooling in 2018 from Air Force Bal Bharati School, followed by commercial pilot and flight crew training at the New Zealand International Commercial Pilot Academy.
She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Aeronautics, Aviation, and Aerospace Science and Technology from the University of Mumbai and later worked at the Madhya Pradesh Flying Club as an Assistant Flying Instructor. She also held a Flight Instructor Rating (A) and had received a Frozen Airline Transport Pilot License (ATPL) from the DGCA.
Sumit Kapoor
Captain Sumit Kapoor was the Pilot‑in‑Command (PIC) on theill‑fated Learjet 45 aircraft. He was a highly experienced aviator with over 16,500 hours of flying experience and was widely regarded as a seasoned professional in business jet operations.
Pinki Mali
Hailing from Bhainsa village in Jaunpur district, Uttar Pradesh, Pinki Mali was a flight attendant on board the ill-fated plane. Reports state that she got married four years ago and had been working as an air hostess for the past eight years, mostly on chartered flights.
Vidhit Jadhav
Jadhav, the personal security officer (PSO) of Ajit Pawar, was among those who tragically lost their lives in the plane crash. He lived in Vitawa, Kalwa, Thane, with his family and is survived by his aged parents, a nine-year-old son, and a 14-year-old daughter. His residence at Krushna Vihar remains locked, as his parents have travelled to their native place.
Ajit Pawar, 66, a veteran politician and one of the most prominent leaders in Maharashtra, was on board a chartered Learjet 45 aircraft that departed from Mumbai for Baramati, where he was scheduled to attend political meetings. The crash occurred at around 8:10 am.
The officials confirmed that all five people, includingPawar, his security staff Vidhit Jadhav, two pilots Sumit Kapur and Shambhavi Pathak, and flight attendant Pinki Jadhav, died in the plane crash.
All you need to know about people onboard Learjet 45
Shambhavi Pathak
Daughter of an Army officer, Shambhavi was the first officer to serve as a co‑pilot on a Learjet in India. She completed his schooling in 2018 from Air Force Bal Bharati School, followed by commercial pilot and flight crew training at the New Zealand International Commercial Pilot Academy.
She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Aeronautics, Aviation, and Aerospace Science and Technology from the University of Mumbai and later worked at the Madhya Pradesh Flying Club as an Assistant Flying Instructor. She also held a Flight Instructor Rating (A) and had received a Frozen Airline Transport Pilot License (ATPL) from the DGCA.
Sumit Kapoor
Captain Sumit Kapoor was the Pilot‑in‑Command (PIC) on theill‑fated Learjet 45 aircraft. He was a highly experienced aviator with over 16,500 hours of flying experience and was widely regarded as a seasoned professional in business jet operations.
Pinki Mali
Hailing from Bhainsa village in Jaunpur district, Uttar Pradesh, Pinki Mali was a flight attendant on board the ill-fated plane. Reports state that she got married four years ago and had been working as an air hostess for the past eight years, mostly on chartered flights.
Vidhit Jadhav
Jadhav, the personal security officer (PSO) of Ajit Pawar, was among those who tragically lost their lives in the plane crash. He lived in Vitawa, Kalwa, Thane, with his family and is survived by his aged parents, a nine-year-old son, and a 14-year-old daughter. His residence at Krushna Vihar remains locked, as his parents have travelled to their native place.
