Who were Captain Shambhavi Pathak and Captain Sumit Kapoor, pilots killed in Baramati crash?

The Maharashtra government announced a period of state mourning following the deaths.

Two experienced pilots, Captain Sumit Kapoor and Captain Shambhavi Pathak, were among those killed when a chartered Learjet 45 crashed near Baramati Airport in Maharashtra on Wednesday morning. The aircraft was carrying Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who also died in the incident, along with other personnel.

The aircraft, operated by Delhi-based charter firm VSR Aviation, had departed from Mumbai at around 8 am and was attempting to land at Baramati when the crash occurred. Eyewitnesses reported that the jet lost control during its landing attempt, following which it caught fire and exploded. All individuals on board were killed.

VSR Aviation later confirmed that Captain Kapoor and Captain Pathak were operating the flight.

Pilots on board:

Captain Shambhavi Pathak was serving as the Pilot-in-Command on the flight. She came from a defence background and was the daughter of an Army officer. Her schooling was completed at Air Force Bal Bharati School, following which she pursued higher education in aviation, The Times of India reported.

She obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Aeronautics, Aviation, and Aerospace Science and Technology from the University of Mumbai. She later underwent professional pilot training at the New Zealand International Commercial Pilot Academy. According to professional records and online profiles, she had also completed the theoretical requirements for a Frozen Airline Transport Pilot Licence.

Captain Sumit Kapoor was also listed as Pilot-in-Command and was responsible for flight operations during critical phases, including take-off and landing. According to a report in The Times of India, he had accumulated more than 16,000 hours of flying experience across different aircraft categories.

A senior official from VSR Aviation, VK Singh, said both pilots were based in Delhi and were highly familiar with business jet operations.

Addressing the media, Singh said the aircraft had been maintained according to required standards and that there were no known technical issues before departure.

“The aircraft was absolutely fit to the best of our knowledge. There was no technical failure. It was very well maintained,” Singh said.

He indicated that weather and visibility conditions may have contributed to 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.

Singh also spoke about the experience level of the crew.

“Captain Kapoor had logged over 16,000 hours of flying experience. He was very seasoned and had worked with Sahara, Jetline, and Jet Airways. He was very experienced with this type of aircraft,” he said.

Speaking about his personal association with the pilots, Singh said: “Captain Sumit Kapoor was a very dear friend of mine. His son is also a pilot with us. Captain Shambhavi was like my child to me. Both of them were extremely good human beings and extremely good pilots. They were from Delhi.”

Other victims:

In addition to the two pilots and Ajit Pawar, the aircraft was carrying Pawar’s personal security officer and other accompanying staff. All occupants died at the site of the crash.

Ajit Pawar,aged 66, was travelling to Baramati to attend political meetings ahead of local body elections. He was a senior leader in Maharashtra politics and had served multiple terms as Deputy Chief Minister under different administrations.

The Maharashtra government announced a period of state mourning following the deaths, as political leaders and members of the public across party lines expressed condolences.