Final Call of Flight Attendant Aboard Crashed Jet

The final words of Pinky Mali, a flight attendant residing in Worli, Mumbai, remain etched in her father’s memory following the tragic crash of a private jet in Maharashtra. During her last telephone conversation, Pinky informed her father, Shivkumar Mali, that she was flying to Baramati with the Deputy Chief Minister, Ajit Pawar. "Father, I am going to Baramati with Ajit Pawar. After dropping him, I will head to Nanded. We shall speak tomorrow," she told him.

Tragically, that "tomorrow" never arrived. Her father, overwhelmed by grief, recalled his response: "I told her we would talk once her work was finished the next day. I have lost my daughter. I do not understand the technicalities of what happened; I am completely shattered. My only wish now is to receive her body to bid her a dignified farewell."

The Incident and Recovery Efforts

On Wednesday morning, a Learjet 45 (VT-SSK), owned by Delhi-based VSR Ventures, crashed near Baramati Airport in the Pune district. The aircraft had departed from Mumbai at 08:10, disappearing from radar screens just 35 minutes later at 08:45. The impact occurred at 08:50 as the aircraft reportedly lost control during its landing approach.

Emergency response teams and security officials rushed to the site immediately. To determine the precise cause of the disaster, a specialised team from the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) was dispatched from Delhi to Pune on Wednesday afternoon.

Flight Details and Passenger Manifesto

The flight was transporting Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar to Pune district, where he was scheduled to attend four public rallies ahead of the Zilla Parishad elections on 5 February.

Investigating the Cause

Preliminary reports suggest the aircraft encountered difficulties during its descent. Investigators are currently examining the flight data recorder (the "black box") and local weather conditions to ascertain whether the crash resulted from a technical malfunction or pilot error.

The loss has sent shockwaves through the political and aviation circles of Maharashtra. While the state mourns the tragedy, the focus remains on the AAIB's investigation to ensure such a catastrophic failure is not repeated in the future.