• Source:JND

Baramati Plane Crash: A day after the tragic plane crash in which Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar lost his life, along with four others, including Captain Sumit Kapoor, it was revealed by his friends that the veteran pilot was not originally scheduled to fly the aircraft. He had stepped in at the last minute to replace another pilot who was delayed due to traffic.

The Learjet 45, operated by VSR Ventures, a Delhi-based airline, was en route from Mumbai to Baramati for election rallies when it crashed around 8:45 am while attempting a second landing at Baramati Airport.

All five individuals on board Captain Kapoor, co-pilot Captain Shambhavi Pathak, flight attendant Pinky Mali, Pawar's security guard Vidip Jadhav, and Pawar himself tragically lost their lives in the crash.

Friends of Captain Kapoor explained that he had only recently returned from Hong Kong and had been instructed to operate the flight just a few hours before take-off. He reportedly filled in for another pilot who could not make it to the airport in time.

The aircraft took off at around 8 am and encountered difficulties while attempting to land in poor visibility. According to NDTV, citing sources, a preliminary investigation pointed to a possible pilot misjudgement during the landing, though investigators are also considering technical issues as a contributing factor.

ALSO READ: Tamil Nadu SIR: SC Orders ECI To Publish Names Of People In Logical Discrepancy List Amid Voter Roll Revision

However, Kapoor's friends have strongly rejected the notion of pilot error, stressing that he was an experienced and highly regarded aviator with a spotless record. They have called for a comprehensive and transparent investigation into the incident.

Captain Kapoor is survived by his family, including a son and son-in-law who are both pilots, a married daughter, and a brother who runs a business in Gurugram.

ALSO READ: Ajit Pawar Death: Sunetra Or Parth Pawar, Who Will Take Dada’s Legacy Forward In Baramati?

Meanwhile, authorities investigating the crash have recovered both the voice recorder and the flight data recorder from the scene. The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) has confirmed that these key pieces of evidence have been collected.

Earlier today, officials from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and forensic teams arrived at the crash site to begin their investigations.


Also In News