The tragic Baramati plane crash that claimed the lives of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, flight attendant Pinky Mali, and three others has left families devastated. The young air hostess was laid to rest at her Mumbai residence on January 29, 2026. As authorities begin a formal probe into the incident, Pinky's mother recalled her daughter's final moments and demanded a full investigation into the tragedy.
Speaking to NDTV, she said she had been anxious since morning as Pinky did not respond to her messages. "I was very nervous. I felt something had happened, though no one was telling me. I could sense it from within. She used to call me every morning, reminding me to have breakfast and take my medicines," she said. Emphasising that her daughter never missed their daily calls, the grieving mother added that Pinky often worked on flights carrying top political leaders.
When asked whether she wanted an investigation, she said she wanted to know the real cause of her daughter's death. "Yes, I want an investigation. I want to know how my daughter died. She is gone and will not come back," she said.
The fatal crash occurred on Wednesday morning when a Learjet aircraft operated by VSR Aviation crashed while attempting to land at Baramati airport, killing all five people on board.
Several political leaders across parties demanded a thorough probe into the incident. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said she was deeply shocked by Ajit Pawar's death. "Deeply shocked and stunned by the sudden demise of Ajit Pawar. The Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra and his co-passengers died in a disastrous plane crash at Baramati this morning. I feel a deep sense of loss," she posted on X. She also called for a proper investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash and extended condolences to Pawar's family, including his uncle Sharad Pawar.
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut pressed for a comprehensive and transparent investigation, stating that condolences alone cannot replace accountability, according to ANI. "Several chartered flight crashes have occurred in the past, and many lives have been lost. Inquiries were announced, but what came out of them? The truth must be placed before the people," Raut said. Questioning whether technical faults, radar failures, or airport-related issues were involved, he added that identifying the root cause was essential to prevent similar tragedies.
Aam Aadmi Party MP Sanjay Singh also called for an investigation, saying, "This is a tragic incident. An inquiry must determine what went wrong. I pray to God to give the family strength to bear this loss."
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) will investigate the crash. The agency is responsible for probing aviation accidents in Indian airspace and recommending safety measures to prevent future incidents.
