‘Good Morning’: Co-Pilot’s Last Message to Grandmother Before Ajit Pawar Plane Crash

A simple “good morning” message sent at dawn has now become a haunting final memory for the family of 25-year-old co-pilot Shambhavi Pathak, who lost her life in the tragic plane crash that also claimed the life of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar.

Just hours before the fatal accident near Baramati airport, Shambhavi sent a rare text message to her grandmother, Meera Pathak, who lives in Gwalior. The brief greeting, sent early Wednesday morning, would be the last communication between them.

The Learjet 45 aircraft was flying from Mumbai to Baramati when it crashed during its landing attempt in Pune district. All five people on board were killed, including Ajit Pawar, pilot-in-command Captain Sumit Kapur, flight attendant Pinky Mali, and Pawar’s personal security officer Vidip Jadhav. The incident sent shockwaves across Maharashtra and beyond.

Ajit Pawar was travelling to Baramati, his political stronghold, to attend public engagements ahead of upcoming Zilla Parishad elections. The crash occurred shortly before the aircraft was scheduled to land.

For Shambhavi Pathak’s family, the loss is deeply personal and devastating. Born into an aviation family, she was the daughter of retired Indian Air Force pilot Vikram Pathak. Her early years were spent in Gwalior, where her father was once posted. She studied at an Air Force school in the city until Class 5 before the family moved to Delhi following his transfer.

Despite growing up around military aviation, Shambhavi charted her own course in the skies. She pursued commercial pilot training in New Zealand, a journey that reflected both ambition and determination. At just 25, she had already flown international routes, including flights to destinations such as Delhi, London and Russia — a career trajectory that impressed those who knew her.

Her grandmother recalled that Shambhavi was not someone who texted frequently, which made the “good morning” message all the more unexpected. At the time, it seemed like a small gesture. In hindsight, it has become a moment frozen in memory.

Later that morning, around 11 am, the family received the devastating call informing them that Shambhavi had been on board the ill-fated flight. Soon after, her father and other family members left for Pune to complete formalities and bring her home.

In Gwalior, neighbours remembered Shambhavi as bright, warm and full of life. Those who knew her spoke of her playful nature, sharp intelligence and deep affection for her family. She was known to visit her grandmother whenever her schedule allowed, despite the demands of her profession.

Residents also recalled her last visits to the city — once in 2024 for her grandfather’s death anniversary, and again in October 2025. These moments have now taken on profound emotional significance for those left behind.

As investigations into the crash continue, Shambhavi Pathak’s story stands as a reminder of the human lives behind aviation tragedies. Beyond official statements and technical probes, it is the quiet, personal moments — like a simple “good morning” — that reveal the true weight of loss left in their wake.