Air India's All-Women Pilots' Flight To Soar Over North Pole On World's Longest Air Route

Scripting a new chapter in the history of Air India, an all-women pilots' flight will soar over the North Pole through the world’s longest air route. Moreover, the woman pilot heading the team, Air India Captain Zoya Agarwal, will be the first woman commander of Air India to command a flight over the North Pole. This feat is a feather added to her cap as she has already created history as the youngest woman pilot to be on Boeing-777 inaugural SFO-BLR.

"Most people in the world will not see the North Pole or even its map in their lifetime,” the proud and excited Captian Zoya Agarwal told ANI. “I feel truly feel privileged and humbled by the trust posed in me by the civil aviation ministry and our flag carrier,” she added. “This is the first time an all-women pilots team will fly over the North Pole and create a history of sorts.”

Captain Agarwal is “extremely proud” to have “experienced women team” on her side to make this history. The team comprises of Captains Captains Thanmai Papagari, Akanksha Sonawane and Shivani Manhas.

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Flying over the North Pole is indeed very challenging and technical and requires proper skills and experience. Adding further,  Air India official said, “...airline companies send their best and experienced pilots on this route.” The official further added, “This time Air India has given responsibilities to a woman captain for the journey from San Fransico to Bengaluru via polar route."

The all-women pilots' flight which took off from San Fransisco will reach Bengaluru of January 9, 2021, after covering the longest air route of length 16,000 kilometres. Although earlier also flights from Air India flew through the North Pole but this is for the first time that an all-women crew will fly over this route.

Captain Agarwal is quite excited and eagerly waiting to make the adventure possible which she finds fascinating. “The thrill of actually realising that you will be passing the North pole where the compass will flip 180 degrees...something which is fascinating indeed.”

“It’s indeed a dream come true for any professional pilot,” Captain Agarwal added.

Being the youngest woman commander in the world on Boeing-777 and now the first woman commander to command a flight over the North Pole, Captain Zoya Agarwal is truly an inspiration for other aspiring women. She believes, “Women should have self-belief even if they face societal pressure not consider any task impossible."

Picture Credit: ANI.

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