Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 03:30pm on 29 Jan 2026,Thursday India
Captain Sumit Kapoor, among five victims in the plane crash that killed Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, wasn't originally scheduled to fly that day. Friends revealed he filled in for another pilot stuck in traffic, receiving orders just hours before the tragic incident. The experienced pilot had recently returned from Hong Kong. The Learjet 45, operated by VSR Ventures, crashed around 8:45 AM during a second landing approach at Baramati Airport amid poor visibility. Preliminary investigations suggest possible pilot misjudgment, though friends dismiss this, citing his extensive experience. All aboard including co-pilot Shambhavi Pathak, flight attendant Pinky Mali, and security guard Vidip Jadhav perished. (PC: NDTV)