Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar succumbed to a tragic plane crash earlier today (January 28). In a flight en route to Baramati, a chartered plane was carrying Pawar, his security personnel and crew members. Along with the senior politician, pilots Shambhavi Pathak and Sumit Kapoor also died after the plane crashed just 35 minutes after gaining altitude.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) confirmed that no passengers and crew on board survived the crash. A VT-SSK Learjet-45, operated by VSR, took off from Mumbai at 8 AM, but shortly lost control and nosedived into an explosion. After hitting the ground, there were subsequent blasts and a massive fire, making the chances of survival even thinner.
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Who was Shampfbhavi Pathak?
Captain Shambhavi Pathak was the daughter of an Army Officer and was serving as the Pilot-in-Command. An alumna of Air Force Bal Bharti School, she achieved a Bachelor of Science in Aeronautics, Aviation, and Aerospace Science and Technology from the University of Mumbai. Pathak completed her training at the New Zealand International Commercial Pilot Academy.
According to her LinkedIn, Pathak also served as an Assistant Flying Instructor at the Madhya Pradesh Flying Club, with an (A) flight instructor rating. Pathak also received Frozen Airline Transport Pilot License (ATPL) from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
Shambhavi’s certifications include:
Aviation Security (AVSEC) from SpiceJet Limited: Issued in March 2022
Jet Orientation Training- A320 from Jordan Airline Training and Simulation: Issued in February 2022
Commercial Pilot License from Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA): Issued in May 2020
CAA Commercial Pilot License from Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand: Issued in November 2019
English Language Proficiency Level 6 from the International Civil Aviation Organisation: Issued in January 2019
Flight Instructor Rating from The Madhya Pradesh Flying Club Limited
Recalling his bonds with the pilots, VSR Aviation’s top official VK Singh told the media, “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.” He further clarified that both pilots had logged in extensive flying hours and denied having a ‘technical failure’.