'Natural leader, full of life': School, neighbours remember pilot Shambhavi Pathak killed in Baramati plane crash

NEW DELHI: At Air Force Bal Bharati School, Shambhavi Pathak, the 25-year-old pilot whose life was tragically cut short in Wednesday's air crash, is remembered not just as a former student, but as a presence, someone whose energy filled classrooms and corridors alike.

For her teachers and classmates, she remains the student who naturally stepped forward with confidence and warmth. Faculty members recall Shambhavi as a bright and proactive student who embraced responsibility from an early age. She served on the student council and often took charge without being prompted, earning the trust of teachers through her organisational skills and quiet leadership. Academically sharp and quick to absorb new ideas, she balanced discipline with approachability, making her equally respected and well liked among peers.


After completing her schooling at Air Force Bal Bharati School, Shambhavi pursued a Bachelor of Science degree in Aeronautics, Aviation, and Aerospace Science and Technology from the University of Mumbai. Firmly focused on building a career in aviation, she later undertook advanced flight training at the New Zealand International Commercial Pilot Academy, according to her LinkedIn profile. Alongside flying, she worked as an assistant flying instructor at the Madhya Pradesh Flying Club and held a Flight Instructor Rating (A).

"Shambhavi was a school captain. She was brilliant, bright, and full of life, with strong organisational and leadership skills. She was also very affectionate and always energetic. Everyone has fond memories of her, especially the teachers who taught her. The incident is shattering for all of us," said the principal of Air Force Bal Bharati School.

The loss struck especially close to home for the school, as Shambhavi's mother teaches in the primary section at the school. "It feels like a double blow for all of us," said another teacher. "She grew up in these very corridors."

Friends said Shambhavi's journey towards aviation began early. "Her father served in the Indian Air Force, and growing up in a defence environment made flight both familiar and aspirational. She was always passionate about aviation and very positive about her career," said a close friend who has known her since Class III.

Meanwhile, in Safdarjung Enclave's A-Block, the transition from a new beginning to an unthinkable tragedy took place in less than 48 hours. The Pathak family had just moved into their newly purchased first-floor house two days ago. Neighbours recalled seeing trucks laden with cartons and furniture arriving as the family worked to settle into their new home.

For the past two years, the family, comprising Shambhavi, her brother, their mother Rolly Pathak and her father, retired Air Force officer Vikram Pathak, had lived in a rented ground-floor accommodation just a few lanes away. Before that, they had been residents of B-4.

In the neighbourhood they called home for those two years, the memory of Shambhavi remains vivid. She is remembered as a tall, poised woman who carried herself with a quiet confidence that matched her professional standing as a pilot.

"They were such a sweet, loving family," recalled 62-year-old Meenu Walia, their next-door neighbour. "In this area, people generally keep to themselves, but she was different. Whenever she passed by or stepped outside, she never failed to greet us with a smile. We would often share mangoes from our small garden with her and the family. That was our primary exchange, but it was always so pleasant."

Other neighbours echoed these sentiments, noting that while the family was private, there was a collective sense of pride in the block that the daughter was a pilot and the father had served in the defence forces.

At their new residence, the atmosphere was heavy with grief as visitors poured in to offer condolences. "Her mother is completely devastated; she has shut herself away in a room," shared a relative. Shambhavi's father is expected to travel to Baramati.

Captain Shambhavi Pathak was among the five people killed when a VSR Ventures-operated Learjet 45 (VT-SSK) crashed during a landing attempt near Baramati Airport in Pune district on Wednesday morning. The charter flight from Mumbai to Baramati carried Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar and his aides. All on board, including Shambhavi as first officer and pilot-in-charge Sumit Kapur, died in the accident. TOI reached out to Kapur's son, who sought privacy.

According to an official, one of the pilots who died was earlier grounded for failing the breath analyser test.