Four Female Pilots Of Air India Create History With Direct Flight From San Francisco To Bengaluru
Bengaluru,11 January 2021: As soon as Air India’s flight reached Bengaluru airport from San Francisco, India’s brave women list got four new names. Air India’s longest direct route flight covered a distance of about 16,000 km.
This is also a big thing because it is challenging to fly the aircraft over the North Pole, and aviation companies assign only experienced pilots on this route. According to Air India officials, flight number AI-176 took off from San Francisco on Saturday at 8.30 pm (local time) and reached Bengaluru after 17 hours at 3.25 am today.
Captain Zoya Aggarwal, Capt Papagari Tanmai, Capt Akanksha Sonware and Capt Shivani Manhas were part of the crew.
Captain Zoya Aggarwal said, “Today, we created history not only by flying to the North Pole but by flying with all the women pilots. We are thrilled and proud to be a part of it. This route has saved 10 tonnes of fuel.”
Capt Shivani Manhas said, “It was an exciting experience as it had never been done before.”
Union Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri had earlier tweeted, “Professional, qualified and confident women crew in the cockpit have flown from San Francisco to Bengaluru in an Air India aircraft and will pass through the North Pole.”
It was the first direct non-stop flight between the United States west coast and southern India.
