The harrowing flames of the Baramati air crash are haunting the people of Maharashtra and beyond, even after 24 hours. On January 28, 2026, a chartered plane carrying Deputy CM Ajit Pawar crashed-landed on the Baramati airstrip, bursting into flames within seconds of landing. There were no survivors.
The tragedy has drawn national attention not only because it involved the veteran political leader, but also because of the young lives lost alongside him. Among them was Pinky Mali, a 29-year-old flight attendant from Mumbai, whose final phone call to her father has become a haunting reminder of life's uncertainty and fragility.
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Pinky Mali's career was only beginning to take off when an unimaginable tragedy cut her life short. Read on to know more about the young cabin crew who left behind a bundle of memories and unfinished dreams.
Pinky Mali's last phone call: "Will call you after I reach"
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On January 27, 2026, Pinky Mali called her father, Shiv Kumar Mali, to inform him that she was about to travel to Baramati with "Ajit Dada". She was headed for Nanded after dropping the politician off. So when Shiv Kumar saw her daughter's name flash on the news headlines, he could not believe it. Speaking to the media, he recalled the last phone call:
"Kal mera unse baatcheet hua ki Baramati Ajit dada ke saath ja rahi hoon aur Ajit dada ko chhor ke mai Nanded chali jaungi. Aur jab mai hotel mein shift hogi toh mai apse baat karungi. Itna hi bola."
That call never came. Pinky's father, an NCP activist, revealed that a local politician, Samdhan Sarvankar, had contacted him about the plane crash, and he rushed to turn on the television. What he saw was beyond his worst nightmare. The grieving father said:
“She left early this morning. I learnt about the incident when news of Ajit Pawar’s aircraft crash appeared on television... I switched on the television. The news left me shocked... When my daughter’s name flashed on breaking news, we realised we had lost her."
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Shiv Kumar Mali clarified that Pinky had been part of Ajit Pawar’s flight crew for several recent trips. For some time, she had been travelling continuously with him and had already accompanied the deputy chief minister on four earlier flights. Speaking to reporters after the crash, Pinky’s father said he was devastated by the loss. He said:
“For some time now, she had been travelling continuously with Ajit Pawar and had accompanied him on four earlier trips... I have lost my daughter. I don’t know what exactly happened. I have no technical knowledge about such incidents. I am completely broken."
Who was Pinky Mali? She became a flight attendant to earn back her father's lost honour
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Pinky Mali, 29, was a well-trained aviation professional working on chartered and VIP flights. Born and brought up in Mumbai, she lived with her family in Worli, and had long dreamt about a career in aviation. Her colleagues knew her as a calm, disciplined, and dependable crew member. Her profile also reflects these qualities, as she has long flown with senior political leaders and dignitaries. According to her father, this was the fifth time she had accompanied Ajit Pawar.
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For Pinky, her job as a flight attendant was more than just a career. She took pride in her work because it helped restore dignity and respect to her family, especially her father. Shiv Kumar Mali once worked as a dry cleaner at Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi. He lost his job after a mistake occurred on an aircraft carrying the then–Prime Minister V. P. Singh. His apologies were dismissed, and he later began working as a cab driver. The incident stayed with him, and he would often recount it to his daughter.
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Pinky listened. And each time, she would tell him she would fulfil the dream he had lost. After completing her schooling in an English-medium school, Pinky chose a career in aviation. She first worked for a domestic airline for 3 years before moving to a private charter carrier. For her, stepping onto an aircraft as cabin crew was about reclaiming her father's lost honour. She also wished for her younger brother, Karan Mali, 23, to have a career as a pilot. She is survived by her parents, her husband, her brother, and her sister, Preeti.
Was Pinky Mali married?
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Yes, she was indeed married. According to what is known about her personal life, she was married to Somvikar Saini, who works as a manager at a private firm. After her marriage, Pinky and Somvikar lived in Pune. Following news of the crash, he left immediately for Baramati. The couple didn't have a child. According to her family, she took pride in her work and often spoke about the responsibility that came with flying VIP passengers.
What happened during the crash?
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The aircraft, a VSR-operated Bombardier Learjet 45 (VTSSK), took off from Mumbai at 8:10 a.m. and was originally scheduled to land in Baramati around 8:50 a.m. Reports indicate the pilot aborted the first landing attempt due to poor visibility. It was during the second attempt that the jet overshot the runway, caught fire, and crashed. Eyewitnesses said the plane was engulfed in flames within moments. The five onboarders in the flight included Ajit Pawar, 66, his personal security officer Vidip Jhadav, 42, Captain Sumit Kapur, 61, his co-pilot Shambhavi Pathak, 25, and flight attendant Pinky Mali, 29. Currently, DGCA and AAIB are investigating the factors that caused the crash.
The Baramati plane crash has triggered three days of mourning in the state of Maharashtra. Ajit Pawar's last rites were held on January 29, 2026, at 11 a.m. Our heartfelt prayers for the lives lost in the tragedy.
Read Next: Meet Ajit Pawar's Bodyguard Vidip Jadhav Who Died In Jet Crash, Constable, Had Thrice Paralysis
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