Air India women pilots set to script history

An all-women pilot team of Air India will fly over the North Pole as part of the world’s longest air route. The flight from San Francisco (SFO) will reach Bengaluru on January 9 covering a distance of about 16,000 kilometres.

“Flying over the North Pole is very challenging. Airline companies send their best and experienced pilots on this route. This time, Air India has given the responsibility to a woman captain for the journey from San Francisco to Bengaluru via the polar route,” an Air India official said.

AI Captain Zoya Agarwal, who will be commanding the flight, and her team are eagerly waiting to make history on January 9. “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 vested in me by the civil aviation ministry and our flag carrier. It is a golden opportunity to command the Boeing 777 inaugural SFO-BLR, one of the world’s longest flights, over the North Pole,” Captain Zoya Agarwal told ANI.