Dikhyaa Mohanty 
Air India’s longest flight from San Francisco to Bengaluru with an all-women cockpit crew successfully landed in the southern city and created a history.
The National Carrier stated that the flight would be the longest commercial flight in the world which is to be operated by any Indian airline and the total flight time on this route would be more than 17 hours depending on the wind speed on that day of the flight.
Flight – AI-176 landed at the Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru and the crew members walked to the airport lounge. With such a success a huge crowd was spotted in the airport that came to receive with joy and pride for creating a new record of an all-woman crew flying the longest distance over the North Pole.
As per the AINS report, the direct distance between the two cities at opposite ends of the world is 13,993 km with a time zone change of around 13.5 hours. The flight was departed from San Francisco in the USA at around 8:30 PM on Saturday and landed at the Kempegowda International Airport at around 3:45 AM on Monday.
The report further reports that the flight was operated with a Boeing 777-200LR with a seating capacity of 238 seats that also includes eight first-class, 35 Business class, 195 Economy class configuration, and four cockpits along with 12 Cabin crew.
Union Minister for Civil Aviation, Hardeep Singh Puri tweeted- “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 the North Pole to land in Bengaluru from San Francisco.”
The Air India also congratulated the crew members Via Twitter- “Welcome Home Capt Zoya Agarwal, Capt Papagari 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.”
The San Francisco Airport authorities also tweeted on this occasion- “Congratulations @airindiain on a historic flight! Flight AI176 was piloted by an all-female cockpit crew for the landmark journey from #SFO over the North Pole to @BLRAirport.”
Air India had earlier stated that this will be the longest commercial flight in the world to be operated by it or any other airline in India.
News Source – IANS
Image Source – Google
