An all-women cockpit crew will operate the inaugural San Francisco-Bengaluru flight on Saturday, covering a distance of about 16,000 kilometres, Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said.
"Flying through the North Pole is very challenging and airline companies send their best and experienced pilots on this route. This time Air India has given responsibilities to a woman captain for the journey from San Fransico to Bengaluru via polar route," an Air India official said.
AI Captain Zoya Agarwal, who will be commanding the flight, and her team is very eagerly waiting to create history on January 9. Captain Zoya Agarwal told "I am extremely proud to have with me experienced women team comprising Captains Thanmai Papagari, Akanksha Sonawane and Shivani Manhas. This is the first time an all-women pilots team will fly over the North Pole and create a history of sorts. It's indeed a dream come true for any professional pilot," she added.
According to aviation experts, flying over the North Pole is extremely technical and requires skill and experience.
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