New Delhi: The Air Force Bal Bharati School community is grappling with profound grief as it remembers Shambhavi Pathak, the 25-year-old pilot whose life was tragically cut short in Wednesday's devastating air crash near Baramati. For those who knew her, Shambhavi was not merely a former student but a vibrant presence whose energy and warmth illuminated classrooms and corridors throughout her school years.
A Natural Leader with Unwavering Confidence
Faculty members and classmates at Air Force Bal Bharati School recall Shambhavi as a bright, proactive student who naturally embraced responsibility from an early age. She served diligently on the student council, often taking charge without prompting, and earned the deep trust of her teachers through exceptional organizational skills and quiet, effective leadership.
Academically sharp and quick to absorb new concepts, Shambhavi masterfully balanced discipline with approachability. This unique combination made her equally respected and well-liked among her peers, creating lasting impressions that endure today.
Dedicated Pursuit of an Aviation Career
After completing her schooling at Air Force Bal Bharati School, Shambhavi pursued a Bachelor of Science degree in Aeronautics, Aviation, and Aerospace Science and Technology from the University of Mumbai. Firmly committed to building a career in aviation, she later undertook advanced flight training at the New Zealand International Commercial Pilot Academy, as detailed on her LinkedIn profile.
Alongside her flying ambitions, Shambhavi worked as an assistant flying instructor at the Madhya Pradesh Flying Club and held a prestigious Flight Instructor Rating (A). Her dedication to aviation was both professional and passionate.
"Shambhavi was a school captain. She was brilliant, bright, and full of life, with strong organisational and leadership skills. She was also very affectionate and always energetic. Everyone has fond memories of her, especially the teachers who taught her. The incident is shattering for all of us," shared the principal of Air Force Bal Bharati School.
Personal Connections Deepen the Loss
The tragedy strikes particularly close to home for the school community, as Shambhavi's mother teaches in the primary section of the same institution. "It feels like a double blow for all of us," confided another teacher. "She grew up in these very corridors."
Friends reveal that Shambhavi's journey toward aviation began early in life. "Her father served in the Indian Air Force, and growing up in a defence environment made flight both familiar and aspirational. She was always passionate about aviation and very positive about her career," said a close friend who had known her since Class III.
Neighborhood Memories of a Poised Professional
In Safdarjung Enclave's A-Block, where the Pathak family had recently moved, the transition from joyful new beginnings to unimaginable tragedy occurred in less than 48 hours. The family had just settled into their newly purchased first-floor house two days before the accident, with neighbors recalling trucks laden with cartons and furniture arriving as they established their new home.
For the preceding two years, the family—comprising Shambhavi, her brother, their mother Rolly Pathak, and her father, retired Air Force officer Vikram Pathak—had lived in a rented ground-floor accommodation just a few lanes away. In that neighborhood, memories of Shambhavi remain vivid and cherished.
She is remembered as a tall, poised woman who carried herself with a quiet confidence that perfectly matched her professional standing as a pilot. "They were such a sweet, loving family," recalled 62-year-old Meenu Walia, their next-door neighbor. "In this area, people generally keep to themselves, but she was different. Whenever she passed by or stepped outside, she never failed to greet us with a smile. We would often share mangoes from our small garden with her and the family. That was our primary exchange, but it was always so pleasant."
Other neighbors echoed these sentiments, noting that while the family maintained privacy, there was a collective sense of pride in the block that the daughter was a pilot and the father had served honorably in the defence forces.
A Community in Mourning
At their new residence, the atmosphere remains heavy with grief as visitors continue to pour in offering condolences. "Her mother is completely devastated; she has shut herself away in a room," shared a relative. Shambhavi's father is expected to travel to Baramati in the coming days.
Captain Shambhavi Pathak was among the five individuals killed when a VSR Ventures-operated Learjet 45 (VT-SSK) crashed during a landing attempt near Baramati Airport in Pune district on Wednesday morning. The charter flight from Mumbai to Baramati carried Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar and his aides. All on board, including Shambhavi as first officer and pilot-in-charge Sumit Kapur, perished in the tragic accident.
In a related development, an official indicated that one of the pilots who died had previously been grounded for failing a breath analyser test, though specific details remain under investigation. The aviation community and those who knew Shambhavi continue to mourn the loss of a promising young professional whose legacy of leadership and warmth endures in memory.
