Mumbai: A pall of gloom has descended over both the Century Quarter are in Worli, Mumbai, and the Bhainsa village under Kerakat tehsil in the Jaunpur district of Uttar Pradesh after the death of 29-year-old Pinky Mali, the flight attendant on the ill-fated Bomardier Learjet 45 that crashed at Baramati on Wednesday morning, killing all passengers and crew, including Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar.
Pinky’s family had migrated from UP and lived at Century Quarter in Mumbai. Relatives and friends say that she had worked hard to become a flight attendant and was often selected for trips by top politicians and celebrities because of her efficiency. This was her fourth trip with Pawar.
Though the family had shifted to Mumbai, residents of Bhainsa recalled its strong connection with the area. Local resident Ashok Singh said that Pinky’s father regularly visited the village and organised Durga Puja every year.
Pinky’s father Shiv Kumar Mali is a political leader and remembered the final conversation with his daughter. sounded happy, he said, and told him she would help arrange a conversation with Ajit Pawar once she was on the flight. There was no communication from her after take-off.
Her brother Karan said she had spoken to him earlier that morning and mentioned she would be travelling from Baramati to Nanded. That call was their last contact. Pinky also had a sister, Preeti.
Pinky had completed her schooling and higher education in Thane before joining the aviation sector. She was married and her husband has left for Baramati to collect her mortal remains and take them back to Mumbai where preparations are on for her final rites.
Her mother was inconsolable when speaking to NDTV. “She would call up every morning and ask whether I had eaten and taken my medicines. She did not call today. My family kept her death from me, till I came to know of the disaster from TV. She has flown with Ajit Pawar in the past. She also flew with other top politicians and celebrities, including film star Chiranjeevi,” she said.
