The Pilots On Ajit Pawar’s Final Flight: Who Were Shambhavi Pathak, Sumit Kapoor ?

A routine political flight turned into one of Maharashtra’s gravest tragedies on the morning of January 28, when a chartered Learjet 45 crashed near Baramati airport, killing Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and five others on board.

Among the victims were the two pilots at the controls, Captain Sumit Kapoor and Captain Shambhavi Pathak, both seasoned aviation professionals whose careers were built on years of training and flying experience.

The aircraft took off from Mumbai around 8 am and was scheduled to land at Baramati for Ajit Pawar’s political engagements ahead of local body elections. As the jet attempted to land, it reportedly faced poor visibility conditions.

According to preliminary information shared by the operator, the aircraft carried out a missed approach and attempted to land again. Minutes later, it lost control and crashed near the airport perimeter, triggering a massive fire and explosions.

All five people on board were killed instantly.

Captain Shambhavi Pathak: A Young Pilot with a Promising Career

Captain Shambhavi Pathak was serving as the First Officer on the flight. She had been associated with VSR Ventures since 2022 and was among the growing number of young women pilots making their mark in Indian aviation.

The daughter of an Army officer, Pathak studied at Air Force Bal Bharati School before earning a BSc in Aeronautics, Aviation and Aerospace Science and Technology from the University of Mumbai. She completed her commercial pilot training at the New Zealand International Commercial Pilot Academy.

In addition to flying, she also worked as an Assistant Flying Instructor at the Madhya Pradesh Flying Club and held a Flight Instructor Rating (A). She possessed a Frozen ATPL issued by the DGCA and multiple international certifications, reflecting a solid technical background.

Captain Sumit Kapoor: A Veteran Pilot with Thousands of Flying Hours

Captain Sumit Kapoor was the senior pilot on the flight and was leading the cockpit during the critical landing phase. With over 16,000 hours of flying experience, Kapoor was considered one of the most experienced pilots in non-scheduled aviation.

He had previously worked with Sahara, Jetline, and Jet Airways, and was well-versed with the Learjet 45 aircraft. VSR Aviation officials described him as “extremely seasoned” and technically sound.

“They Were Like Family”

VSR Aviation’s top official VK Singh spoke emotionally about the loss, calling both pilots “excellent human beings and excellent pilots.”

“Captain Sumit was a very dear friend. Captain Shambhavi was like my child,” he said, underlining the personal toll the tragedy has taken on those who worked closely with the crew.

Aircraft Declared Fit, Probe Underway

The operator maintained that the aircraft was “absolutely fit” and well maintained, ruling out any known technical fault at this stage. Officials indicated that poor visibility could have been a contributing factor, though no conclusions have been drawn yet.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has launched a detailed investigation. Weather conditions, communication records, flight data, and operational procedures will all be examined to determine what went wrong in the final moments.