Air India all-women crew makes history by landing the longest flight from the US to Bengaluru:
We are proud again. Air India’s all-women crew of Air India’s longest direct flight from San Francisco to Bengaluru landed on Monday morning after covering a distance of 16,000 kilometers in which the crew flew over the North Pole.
The four women pilots: Captains Zoya Aggarwal, Papagari Thanmai, Akansha Sonaware, and Shivani Manhas were operating a Boeing 777 200 (long-range or LR) VT-ALG — named ‘Kerala’.
#FlyAI : Welcome Home
Capt Zoya Agarwal, Capt Papagiri Thanmei, Capt Akanksha & Capt Shivani after completing a landmark journey with touchdown @BLRAirport.Kudos for making Air India proud.
We also congratulate passengers of AI176 for being part of this historic moment. pic.twitter.com/UFUjvvG01h
— Air India (@airindiain) January 10, 2021
The flight number AI176 left San Francisco on Saturday at 8.30 pm (local time) and arrived at 3.07 am, Air India.
These four women made history as they landed at Kempegowda International Airport.
Captain Zoya Aggarwal said, “Today, we created world history by not only flying over the North Pole but also by having all women pilots who successfully did it. We are extremely happy and proud to be part of it. This route has saved 10 tonnes of fuel.”
Karnataka: With four women pilots, Air India’s longest direct route flight landed at Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru from San Francisco, flying over the North Pole and covering a distance of about 16,000 kilometres. pic.twitter.com/KciYlqyDaC
— ANI (@ANI) January 10, 2021
Union Minister for Civil Aviation, Hardeep Singh Puri tweeted, “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 the North Pole. Our Nari Shakti achieves a historic first.”
In a moment to cherish & celebrate, women professionals of Indian civil aviation create history.
Heartiest Congratulations to Capt Zoya Aggarwal, Capt Papagari Thanmai, Capt Akansha Sonaware & Capt Shivani for flying over North Pole to land in Bengaluru from San Francisco. pic.twitter.com/P6EvJChMGB
— Hardeep Singh Puri (@HardeepSPuri) January 11, 2021
Today, we created world history by not only flying over the North Pole but also by having all women pilots who successfully did it. We are extremely happy and proud to be part of it. This route has saved 10 tonnes of fuel: Captain Zoya Aggarwal at Bengaluru airport https://t.co/wRyNNKC4GJ pic.twitter.com/q8jZgB6HBt
— ANI (@ANI) January 10, 2021
Shivani Manhas, one of the four pilots who operated Air India’s inaugural San Francisco-Bengaluru flight said, “It was an exciting experience since it was never done before. It took almost 17 hours to reach here.”
Air India claims that this will be the longest commercial flight in the world to be operated by it or any other airline in India.
Air India will be operating two non-stop flights per week to Kempegowda International Airport in Bangalore, departing on Saturday and Tuesday. The return flight from Bangalore arrives on Mondays and Thursdays, San Francisco International Airport said in a statement.
