Who Was Captain Shambhavi Pathak? The Young Pilot Died In The Baramati Plane Crash

The tragic Baramati plane crash on Wednesday has left the country searching for answers and for stories behind the names lost.

Among them is Captain Shambhavi Pathak, the young pilot whose life ended far too soon. As news of the accident spread, many people began asking a simple question online: Who was Shambhavi Pathak? Her story is one of discipline, family legacy, and a lifelong dream of flying.

On the morning of the crash, Shambhavi sent a brief message to her grandmother in Gwalior. “Hi, good morning, Dadda,” she wrote, as she often did.

Her grandmother replied warmly, unaware that this everyday greeting would become their final exchange. A short while later, the aircraft she was flying crashed near the tabletop runway at Baramati in Maharashtra, killing everyone on board, including Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar.

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Shambhavi Pathak was born in Murar, Gwalior, into a family deeply connected to the Indian Air Force.

Aviation ran in her blood. Her grandfather, Shri Kishan Pathak, served as a Wing Commander, while her father, Vikram Pathak, was a Group Captain in the Indian Air Force.

Growing up around airbases and stories of the sky, her fascination with flying began early.

Her academic journey reflected that single-minded passion.

She began her schooling at Air Force Vidya Bharati School in Gwalior before continuing at Air Force Delhi Public Secondary School.

Later, she pursued a Bachelor of Science degree in Aeronautics, Aviation, and Aerospace Science and Technology from the University of Mumbai, choosing a path that aligned perfectly with her dream of becoming a professional pilot.

To sharpen her skills, Shambhavi travelled abroad for advanced training at the New Zealand International Commercial Pilot Academy.

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She went on to earn a Commercial Pilot License and a Frozen Airline Transport Pilot License issued by the DGCA. She also worked as an Assistant Flight Instructor at the Madhya Pradesh Flying Club and held a prestigious Flight Instructor Rating ‘A’, marking her as a technically strong and capable aviator.

The ill-fated flight was commanded by Captain Sumit Kapur, the pilot-in-command and the senior-most crew member on board.

Both pilots were based in Delhi and had logged extensive flying hours.

According to aviation officials, the crew had reported poor visibility near the runway shortly before attempting the landing at Baramati, a factor now being closely examined by investigators.

For her grandmother, Meera Pathak, Shambhavi was not just a pilot or a professional achiever. She was “Chini,” the granddaughter who stayed by her side for days after her grandfather’s death and who, despite a demanding career, never forgot her family.

That final morning message now stands as a quiet reminder of love, routine, and a life interrupted without warning.