Ajit Pawar death: Who were Captains Shambhavi Pathak, Sumit Kapoor killed in Baramati plane crash ?
The aircraft was carrying five passengers- Ajit Pawar, his personal security officer, an attendant, the pilot-in-command and the first officer.
PTC News Desk: A routine political charter flight turned tragic in fraction of seconds on January 28 after a Learjet 45 business aircraft crashed near Baramati Airport in Pune district killing all five onboard including Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar.
The aircraft was carrying five passengers- Ajit Pawar, his personal security officer, an attendant, the pilot-in-command and the first officer.
The aircraft had departed from Mumbai around 8 am and was attempting to land at Baramati when it reportedly crash landed, triggering massive fire and multiple explosions, according to the eyewitnesses.
Amongst the deceased were two pilots Captain Sumit Kapoor and Captain Shambhavi Pathak, both experienced aviation professionals. VSR Aviation, which operated the flight, confirmed their identities.
Captain Shambhavi Pathak, an army brat was srving as the Pilot-in-Command. She completed her schooling at Air Force Bal Bharti School and completed a BSc in Aeronautics, Aviation, and Aerospace Science and Technology from the University of Mumbai. She later trained at the New Zealand International Commercial Pilot Academy.
Captain Sumit kapoor was also serving as the Pilot-in-Command, responsible for key flight decisions during take-off and landing. He was known for his extensive hours in corporate aviation.
Aviation officials noted that both the pilots were seasoned professionals and were familiar with charter operations on similar aircraft.
A detailed investigation has been launched into the aviation tragedy with focus on weather conditions, technical data and flight records.
Meanwhile VSR Aviation’s top official VK Singh said both pilots were based in Delhi and had logged extensive flying hours.
“The aircraft was absolutely fit to the best of our knowledge. There was no technical failure. It was very well maintained,” Singh told the media.
He said preliminary information suggested poor visibility may have played a role in the crash.
“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 said.