365telugu.com online news,Baramati, January 28, 2026:The aviation community and the nation are in mourning following a fatal plane crash this morning that claimed the lives of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and four others. Among the casualties was Captain Shambhavi Pathak, the 26-year-old First Officer of the ill-fated Learjet 45.
The aircraft, registered as VT-SSK and operated by Delhi-based VSR Ventures, went down at approximately 8:50 AM while attempting to land at Baramati Airport.
Captain Shambhavi Pathak was a resident of Delhi and an alumna of the prestigious Air Force Bal Bharati School. She pursued her passion for flying by earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Aeronautics from the University of Mumbai, followed by rigorous commercial pilot training at the New Zealand International Commercial Pilot Academy.
ఇదీ చదవండి..రెపో రేటును తగ్గించనున్న ఆర్బీఐ.. తగ్గనున్న హోమ్ లోన్ ఈఎంఐలు..!”
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Colleagues and friends remember her as a “brilliant student” and a highly dedicated professional. Before joining the charter aviation sector, she had earned several certifications, including Jet Orientation Training (A320) and a Flight Instructor Rating from the Madhya Pradesh Flying Club.
According to preliminary reports from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the Baramati Air Traffic Control (ATC):
The flight was on its second landing attempt due to poor visibility.
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The pilot-in-command, Captain Sumit Kapur (a veteran with over 16,000 flying hours), and First Officer Pathak were coordinating the descent when the aircraft appeared to lose stability.
Eyewitnesses reported seeing the jet veer off the runway threshold before erupting into flames after a hard impact.
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has launched a high-level probe into the incident. Investigators are currently examining:
Weather Conditions: Low visibility at the time of the crash.
Technical Logs: The maintenance history of the 16-year-old Bombardier Learjet.
Pilot Communication: Analyzing the final interactions between the cockpit and ATC.
While the loss of a senior political figure like Ajit Pawar has triggered state-wide mourning, the untimely demise of a young, promising pilot like Shambhavi Pathak serves as a poignant reminder of the risks faced by those in the aviation industry.