Pinky Mali was among the crew members of a twin-engine Learjet 45 flight, those killed in the crash of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar’s private charter plane in Baramati. She was working as a flight attendant on the aircraft, and this was her fourth flight with Ajit Pawar.
Who was Pinky Mali?
Pinky Mali lived in the Dadar area of Mumbai. Her father, Shiv Kumar Mali, is an NCP worker. According to her family, Pinky had called them the night before the accident to inform them that she was leaving for Baramati.
"I spoke to her for the last time yesterday. She told me that she will head to Baramati with Ajit Dada. She also told me that from there, she will head to Nanded and speak to me once she checks into a hotel," he father Shiv Kumar Mali told media.
Pinky Mali had considerable professional experience. Her family said she had worked on several political and corporate charter flights in the past. She had also flown with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. According to MP Chandrashekhar Bawankule, Pinky had extensive experience in the aviation field. News of her death has deeply saddened her community and colleagues.
This fourth flight with Ajit Pawar was significant, as Pinky had been regularly assigned to his travel. The deaths of both Pinky Mali and Ajit Pawar in the accident have left their families devastated and raised serious questions about aviation safety.
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar’s journey turned tragic on Wednesday morning when his chartered plane crashed near Baramati Airport while attempting to land. Pawar and four others were killed in the accident. No one on board survived.
Also Read | Ajit Pawar’s Plane Attempted Second Landing in Baramati; Pilot Gave ‘Mayday’ Call After Spotting Glitch.
The incident occurred at around 8.45 am when the chartered aircraft, a Learjet 45XR (registration VT-SSK), was flying from Mumbai to Baramati. The jet was operating as a non-scheduled charter service and was run by Delhi-based VSR Aviation (VSR Ventures Pvt Ltd).
The aircraft reportedly lost control during its approach to Runway 11 and hit the ground before landing, triggering a massive explosion and fire. Officials and locals at the site said multiple explosions were heard after the crash, and the aircraft was completely engulfed in flames.