Women pilots are creating history, and how!
An all-women cockpit team of Indian airline Air India is flying on the world’s longest air route from San Francisco to Bengaluru over the North Pole, covering a distance of around 16,000 kilometres. Interestingly, this is the airline’s inaugural San Francisco-Bengaluru flight.
According to Air India, the flight number AI176 left San Francisco on 9th January, Saturday at 8.30 PM local time and would arrive at the Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru at 3.45 AM on 11th January, Monday.
Air India has claimed this will be the longest non-stop commercial flight in the world to be operated by it or any other airline in India.
#FlyAI : Imagine this :
-All Women Cockpit Crew.
-Longest flight into India.
-Crossing the North PoleIt’s here & happening!
Records broken.History in the making by AI176 from @flySFO to @BLRAirport.
AI 176 is cruising at 30000 feet pic.twitter.com/kZ66hqiatq
— Air India (@airindiain) January 10, 2021
The flight will be commanded by Captain Zoya Agarwal, who is accompanied by Captain Papagari Thanmai, Captain Akanksha Sonawane, and Captain Shivani Manhas.
“Most people in the world will not see the North Pole or even its map in their lifetime. I feel truly feel privileged and humbled by the trust posed in me by the civil aviation ministry and our flag carrier. It is a golden opportunity to command a Boeing 777 inaugural SFO-BLR, one of the world’s longest flight over the North Pole,” Captain Zoya Agarwal told ANI.
“Flying through the North Pole is very challenging and airline companies send their best and experienced pilots on this route. This time Air India has given responsibilities to a woman captain for the journey from San Fransico to Bengaluru via polar route,” an Air India official said.
Indian Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri tweeted, congratulating the team for embarking on this amazing feat.
Way to go girls!
Professional, qualified & confident, the all women cockpit crew takes off from San Francisco to Bengaluru on @airindiain‘s flight to fly over North Pole.
Our Nari Shakti achieves a historic first. pic.twitter.com/X46cs73dQu— Hardeep Singh Puri (@HardeepSPuri) January 10, 2021
Isn’t this a commendable feat by this inspiring all-women team? Let us know your views in the comments section below.
