Captain Sumit Kapoor, Killed In Baramati Plane Crash, Wasn’t Supposed To Fly: Friends

Last Updated:January 29, 2026, 21:34 IST

Captain Sumit Kapoor, a veteran pilot, died in a plane crash with Ajit Pawar and three others. Kapoor had filled in last minute for another pilot delayed in traffic.

Captain Sumit Kapoor, a veteran pilot, died in a plane crash with Ajit Pawar and three others. Kapoor had filled in last minute for another pilot delayed in traffic.

Captain Sumit Kapoor was among the five people killed in a plane crash in Baramati on Tuesday, friends said, revealing that the veteran pilot was not originally scheduled to fly the aircraft and had stepped in at the last moment to replace another pilot who was delayed in traffic.

The Learjet 45, operated by Delhi-based VSR Ventures, was carrying Ajit Pawar and three others from Mumbai to Baramati for election rallies when it crashed around 8:45 am while attempting a second landing at Baramati Airport.

All five on board, Captain Kapoor, co-pilot Captain Shambhavi Pathak, flight attendant Pinky Mali, Pawar’s security guard Vidip Jadhav, and Pawar were killed in the crash.

According to friends, Kapoor had returned from Hong Kong just days earlier and received orders to operate the flight only a few hours before take-off. He reportedly filled in for another pilot who could not reach the airport on time.

The aircraft took off around 8 am and encountered difficulties while landing amid poor visibility. Sources told NDTV that a preliminary probe pointed to a possible pilot misjudgement during landing, though investigators are also examining potential technical issues.

However, Kapoor’s friends strongly disputed suggestions of pilot error, describing him as a highly experienced aviator with an impeccable record. They demanded a thorough and transparent investigation into the crash.

Remembering him, friends described Kapoor as a “very kind" person who loved flying deeply. “The possibility of him making such a mistake is negligible," one friend said.

Kapoor’s body was identified by a bracelet he was wearing, said his friend Sachin Taneja. Another close friend, Naresh Taneja, said the news of his death was impossible to believe.

GS Grover, also a friend, recalled speaking with Kapoor at length after his return from Hong Kong. “He advised me to take special care of my health. That was our last conversation," he said.

Kapoor is survived by his family, including a son and son-in-law who are both pilots, a married daughter, and a brother who runs a business in Gurugram.

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