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Zoya Agarwal
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Zoya Agarwal | |
|---|---|
| File:Captainzoyaagarwal.png | |
| Occupation | Aircraft pilot |
| Employer | Air India |
Zoya Agarwal is an Indian commercial pilot who has flown for Air India. In 2021, Agarwal captained an all-woman crew making the inaugural flight from San Francisco to Bengaluru, one of the longest air routes in the world.
Career[edit]
In 2006, The Times of India highlighted Agarwal as a rising female aviator of India.[1] She became the youngest woman pilot in India to fly a Boeing-777 in 2013.[2]
In 2015, Agarwal garnered attention for her role in saving a passenger's life on a flight bound to New York. After a passenger complained of breathlessness, she decided to turn back the flight and land at Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi, where the passenger was taken to a nearby hospital.[3][4]
As a precautionary measure during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government of India initiated Vande Bharat Mission in May 2020 to evacuate around 14,800 Indians from twelve countries on sixty-four Air India flights. Agarwal was chosen to co-pilot the first repatriation flight by the airline.[5]
In 2021, Agarwal captained an all-woman crew making the inaugural flight from San Francisco to Bengaluru, one of the longest air routes in the world.[2][6] Later that month, the crew made an appearance on Indian Idol for its Republic Day special episode.[7]
References[edit]
- ↑ "Female Aviators Rising In India". The Times of India. February 26, 2006. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Soni, Mallija (9 January 2021). "Air India's Zoya Aggarwal to command world's longest route". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
- ↑ Roy, Sidhartha (September 19, 2015). "New York-bound AI flight returns to Delhi after passenger falls sick on board". The Hindu. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
- ↑ "Air India flight to New York returns to Delhi for medical aid". Business Standard. Indo-Asian News Service. September 19, 2015. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
- ↑ Raj, Ashoke (May 10, 2020). "Under Vande Bharat mission, AI's first Mumbai-bound repatriation flight with 155 passengers departs from San Francisco". Asian News International. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
- ↑ Warsi, Zeba (January 11, 2021). "From a Little Girl.. I Commanded a Flight Over North Pole". CNN-News18. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
- ↑ Keshri, Shweta (23 January 2021). "Indian Idol 12 welcomes Air India all-women crew on Republic Day special episode". India Today. Retrieved 18 June 2021.