Baramati plane crash: Who are the captain and co-pilot flying Learjet 45?

The fatal crash of a chartered Learjet 45 near Baramati Airport in Pune district on Wednesday morning has drawn attention to the highly experienced pilots who were at the controls of the aircraft. The jet, carrying Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, went down while attempting to land, killing all five people on board.

The aircraft, operated by VSR Aviation, had taken off from Mumbai at around 8 am and was on approach to Baramati when it lost control and crashed at 8.45 am, triggering a massive fire and multiple explosions, according to eyewitnesses.

The flight was reportedly commanded by Captain Sumit Kapoor, with Captain Shambhavi Pathak as co-pilot. VSR Aviation confirmed the identities of both pilots, describing them as seasoned professionals with substantial flying experience.

Captain Kapoor, the senior of the two, was responsible for leading the flight during critical phases such as take-off and landing. He had logged more than 16,000 flying hours and had previously worked with airlines including Sahara, Jetline and Jet Airways, according to reports.

Company officials reportedly described him as highly experienced on the Learjet 45 aircraft type.

Captain Pathak had accumulated around 1,500 hours of flying time, according to reports. The daughter of an Army officer, she reportedly studied at Air Force Bal Bharati School before completing a BSc in Aeronautics, Aviation, and Aerospace Science and Technology from the University of Mumbai. 

She later underwent professional flight training at the New Zealand International Commercial Pilot Academy, as per reports.

Preliminary information suggests that poor visibility may have contributed to the accident. Singh explained that the pilots had attempted an approach to the runway, carried out a missed approach due to limited visibility, and then made another attempt before the crash.

Along with Ajit Pawar, 66, the flight was reportedly carrying his personal security officer and additional crew members. All were killed in the accident. Pawar was travelling to attend political meetings ahead of local body elections.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation has launched a detailed investigation into the crash, examining weather conditions, visibility, flight operations and technical data. As investigations continue, tributes have poured in for the two captains, who are being remembered as skilled pilots and dedicated professionals, amid widespread mourning over one of Maharashtra’s most devastating aviation tragedies in recent years.