Captain Sumit Kapoor was the pilot in command who was one of the members, along with Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who died in the Baramati jet crash.
Deputy Chief Minister, Ajit Pawar, was having a routine political trip when his chartered Learjet 45 crashed near the Baramati Airport in Pune district on January 28, 2026. The five members on board, along with Ajit Pawar, were the pilot in command, Captain Sumit Kapoor, the co-pilot, Captain Shambhavi Pathak, the flight attendant, Pinky Mali and Pawar's security guard, Vidip Jadhav, who lost their lives. The plane, which was operated by a Delhi-based charter firm called VSR Aviation, had departed from Mumbai around 8 a.m. on January 28, 2026.
The flight was attempting to land at the Baramati airport when the crash took place. Eyewitnesses revealed that the flight lost control while attempting to land, after which it caught fire, and then it exploded, killing all on board. VSR Aviation officials, in an interview with the PTI, noted that the aircraft was 100 per cent safe and the crew was fairly experienced. However, who is Captain Sumit Kapoor, who flew his last flight to Baramati and met with a tragic end?
According to a report by the Free Press Journal, the pilot-in-command, Captain Sumit Kapoor, had around 16,000 hours of flying experience and, earlier, had 1,500 hours as a co-pilot. Under his command, the flight was on its final approach to Baramati Airport around 8.45 a.m., when it reportedly encountered difficulties over the runway. There was an immediate response from the emergency services, but later the authorities reportedly confirmed that there were no survivors on board.
Captain Sumit Kapoor was flying the Learjet, which was operated by VSR Aviation, a Delhi-based operator. Captain Sumit Kapoor was an experienced business jet pilot known for extensive flying hours in the corporate aviation sector. He was responsible for important flight decisions during the takeoff and landing. A seasoned aviator, Captain Sumit Kapoor's flight ended in the most devastating manner.
V.K. Singh is the owner of VSR Ventures, whose aircraft carried Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar. In an interview with PTI, V.K. Singh claimed the pilot may not have been able to see the runway and had to carry out a missed approach. It is a standardised procedure in such cases. He shared that the flight was well maintained and that Captain Sumit Kapoor was very experienced, having also served as an instructor and an 'examiner material'. Singh said:
"The aircraft was absolutely fit to the best of our knowledge. There was no technical failure. It was very well maintained. Primarily, it appears there was no visibility. The pilot made an approach to the runway, carried out a missed approach, and then made another attempt. If a pilot cannot see the runway, he will carry out a missed approach."
Captain Sumit Kapoor had completed his pilot training, obtained the required licences, and passed all checks to fly business jets. He had hands-on experience with high-performance light jets and with both routine and non-scheduled flights. He was also a pro flyer with VIP charters and earlier worked with Sahara Airlines and also with Jet Airways.
Captain Sumit Kapoor worked in the business and charter jet sector. He used to fly the chartered Learjet 45, which handled time-sensitive VIP movements. Flying this aircraft required quick decision-making skills, precise planning techniques, and Captain Sumit Kapoor was familiar with this, as well as shorter runways, according to a report by the Indian Bugle.
Captain Sumit, who was the pilot in command, was responsible for the aircraft and its occupants. His main tasks included planning the flight, evaluating weather conditions, monitoring fuel systems, and coordinating with air traffic control. His decisions controlled every stage of the flight, especially during important phases like approach and landing. The report further mentioned that Captain Sumit was known to have a calm demeanour, adhered to all procedures, and was a pro at managing flights in complex conditions. Aviation officials and colleagues, according to the report, revealed that Captain Sumt had worked extensively in the non-scheduled commercial aviation sector.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation has begun the investigation into the plane crash accident. There will a thorough review on the flight data, weather conditions, Learjet 45's mechanical status and on the communication between the crew along with the air traffic control. The authorities have not yet issued an official cause of the crash as a preliminary examination is going on. Well, aviation experts are noting, according to multiple social media reports, that a full investigation may take weeks to determine why Ajit Pawar's flight could not make a safe landing at Baramati.
Team BollywoodShaadis extends its condolences to the victims of the Baramati plane crash.
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