The family of 29-year-old cabin crew member Pinky Mali performed her final rites in Worli on Wednesday, following her tragic death in the aircraft accident involving Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar near Baramati. The somber ceremony brought together relatives, neighbors, and community members to mourn the loss and honor the memory of the young aviation professional.
A Tragic Loss for the Mali Family
Pinky Mali, who worked as a cabin crew member for a private carrier, was among those on board the ill-fated aircraft that crashed on Wednesday. Her family, residing in an 18th-floor flat in a Century Mill MHADA building in Worli, received the devastating news through television reports that initially highlighted Ajit Pawar's aircraft crash, with Pinky's name later appearing in breaking news alerts.
Family's Heartbreaking Wait for Information
Inside their residence, Pinky's mother and elder sister were inconsolable as the family awaited official information about the cause of the crash. Her father, Shiv Kumar Mali, revealed that he last spoke to his daughter on Tuesday evening, when she informed him about her travel plans to Baramati with Ajit Pawar, with subsequent plans to proceed to Nanded.
The family is now awaiting findings from the aircraft's black box investigation to understand the circumstances that led to this tragedy. Pinky, who was married and based in Pune, lived with her husband, who works as a manager in a private firm.
Pinky's Aviation Career and Family Support
Pinky had previously worked with a domestic airline for three years before joining a private carrier, fulfilling a long-held dream that was encouraged by her father. Her younger brother Karan Mali (23) shared that she had only informed him about her Baramati-Nanded travel plans, while her cousin Atul Mali (24) remembered her as a pillar of support for the entire family.
Community Mourning and Condolences
Throughout the day, neighbors continued to arrive at the Mali residence to offer their condolences and support. The community came together in solidarity with the grieving family, who await further information from authorities regarding the investigation into the aircraft accident.
The tragic incident has not only affected the political sphere with Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar's involvement but has also highlighted the human cost of such accidents, leaving families like the Malis to cope with an irreplaceable loss.
