The tragic plane crash in Baramati on Wednesday claimed the life of Pinky Mali, an attendant who was accompanying Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar. This devastating loss has plunged her family into profound shock and grief, highlighting the personal dimensions of the aviation disaster.
A Fatal Journey on Learjet 45
Pinky Mali was traveling aboard the Learjet 45 aircraft along with Ajit Pawar, his personal security officer Vidip Jadhav, and two crew members: Captain Sumit Kapur and Captain Shambhavi Pathak. The aircraft crash-landed during a second landing attempt at Baramati airport, resulting in multiple fatalities.
Family's Heartbreaking Account
At their modest residence in Prabhadevi, Mumbai, Pinky's father, Shiv Kumar Mali, grappled with the sudden and tragic loss. In an emotional conversation with reporters, he recounted his last interaction with his daughter just a day before the accident.
"She told me yesterday that she would be going to Baramati with Ajit Dada and that from there she would head to Nanded. She said she would call me from the hotel," he said, his voice trembling with sorrow.
The following morning brought unimaginable horror. "When I switched on the TV and saw the news, my limbs started trembling," Shiv Kumar Mali described, capturing the moment he realized his daughter was among the victims of the crash.
Professional Role and Community Mourning
Pinky Mali had been working closely with Ajit Pawar as an attendant, frequently traveling as part of his official engagements. Her death, along with that of Pawar and others on board, has triggered widespread mourning across Maharashtra's political landscape.
The tragedy has also deeply affected the local community in Prabhadevi. Neighbors gathered outside the Mali residence to offer condolences and support, transforming the quiet lanes into a scene of collective grief.
Photographs of Pinky Mali with Ajit Pawar, alongside images of her grieving parents at their home, poignantly illustrate the human cost of this aviation disaster. The incident serves as a stark reminder of how sudden tragedies can shatter families and communities alike.
