Ajit Pawar's pilot Shambhavi Pathak had also flown Aamir Khan's private jet, old pics with Bollywood actor goes viral

Ajit Pawar's pilot Shambhavi Pathak had also flown Aamir Khan's private jet, old pics with Bollywood actor goes viral

• Pilot Shambhavi Pathak, Ajit Pawar, and three others died in Baramati plane crash.
• Old photos show Pathak with Aamir Khan, showcasing her business aviation work.
• AAIB probes crash; low visibility and runway approach possible factors

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Old photos of 25-year-old first officer Captain Shambhavi Pathak have surfaced on social media after the Baramati plane crash, including images in which she is seen posing with Bollywood actor Aamir Khan near a private jet.

Several widely shared posts have claimed that Pathak had earlier flown Aamir Khan’s private aircraft as part of her work in business aviation, and the pictures have added a personal, human face to the tragedy being discussed across the country.

Pathak was among the five people who died when a private Learjet 45 operated by VSR Venture Pvt Ltd crashed near Baramati airport on the morning of January 28, 2026.

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar was also on board, along with pilot-in-command Captain Sumit Kapur, flight attendant Pinky Mali, and Pawar’s personal security officer Vidip Jadhav.

According to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) details reported by media, the aircraft took off from Mumbai around 8 am and contacted Baramati air traffic control at 8:18 am to ask about wind and visibility. During the first approach to Runway 11, the crew reported that the tabletop runway was not in sight and initiated a go-around. Minutes later, the pilots informed ATC that the runway was visible, and the aircraft was cleared to land at 8:43 am. However, there was no readback from the aircraft, and ATC reportedly saw flames near the runway threshold at 8:44 am.

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Eyewitnesses described the jet flying unusually low, circling once, and then spiralling before crashing and bursting into flames.

Local residents also spoke about the strong smell of fuel and the difficulty rescue vehicles faced in reaching the exact crash spot quickly because of access issues.

The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has taken over the investigation, and experts have said the flight data recorder will be key to understanding what went wrong in the final moments. Reports have pointed to low visibility and the operational challenge of the approach as possible contributing factors, but investigators have not announced an official cause yet.

As condolences pour in, the renewed attention on Shambhavi Pathak’s photos has also highlighted how young she was and how quickly her career was moving in the world of charter and private flying.