Who is Pinky Mali Husband Somvikar Saini? All About Ajit Pawar’s Cabin Crew who Died In Baramati Plane Crash

The devastating Baramati air crash continues to haunt Maharashtra and the nation, even 24 hours after the incident. On January 28, 2026, a chartered plane carrying Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar crash-landed at the Baramati airstrip, bursting into flames within seconds. There were no survivors.

Among the victims was 29-year-old flight attendant Pinky Mali from Mumbai, whose final phone call to her father has become a haunting reminder of life’s fragility.

Pinky Mali’s Last Call:

On January 27, 2026, Pinky called her father, Shiv Kumar Mali, informing him that she was traveling to Baramati with “Ajit Dada” and would continue to Nanded afterward. Reflecting on that call, her father recalled:
“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.”
Tragically, that call never came.

Pinky had accompanied Ajit Pawar on several trips previously and was part of his regular flight crew. Her father 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.”

Life and Career of Pinky Mali:

Born and raised in Mumbai, Pinky pursued aviation to restore her father’s lost honour. Shiv Kumar Mali, once a dry cleaner at Delhi airport, lost his job after an incident involving an aircraft carrying former Prime Minister V. P. Singh and later worked as a cab driver. Pinky vowed to fulfil her father’s dream, first working for a domestic airline for three years before joining a private charter carrier. She also aimed to inspire her younger brother, Karan Mali, 23, to pursue a career as a pilot. She is survived by her parents, her husband Somvikar Saini, her brother, and her sister Preeti.

Details of the Crash:

The aircraft, a VSR-operated Bombardier Learjet 45 (VTSSK), departed Mumbai at 8:10 a.m., scheduled to land at Baramati around 8:50 a.m. The first landing attempt was aborted due to poor visibility. On the second attempt, the plane overshot the runway and caught fire instantly. The five victims included Ajit Pawar, 66, personal security officer Vidip Jhadav, 42, Captain Sumit Kapur, 61, co-pilot Shambhavi Pathak, 25, and Pinky Mali, 29. Investigations are ongoing by the DGCA and AAIB to determine the cause of the crash.

The incident is a national tragedy, highlighting both the fragility of life and the dedication of aviation professionals like Pinky Mali, whose courage and commitment to her work will be remembered.