Zoya Agarwal facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Zoya Agarwal
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| Born |
Delhi, India
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| Occupation | Aircraft pilot |
| Employer | Air India |
Zoya Agarwal is a brave and skilled pilot from India. She flies big airplanes for Air India, a major airline. In 2021, Zoya led an amazing team of all women pilots. They flew a special flight from San Francisco, USA, all the way to Bengaluru, India. This was one of the longest non-stop flights in the world!
Contents
Zoya Agarwal's Flying Career
Early Achievements
Zoya Agarwal started making headlines early in her career. In 2006, a newspaper called The Times of India wrote about her. They saw her as a rising star among female pilots in India. She worked hard and achieved a big goal in 2013. Zoya became the youngest woman pilot in India to fly a huge airplane called a Boeing-777.
Helping Passengers
Pilots do more than just fly planes; they also keep passengers safe. In 2015, Zoya showed how caring and quick-thinking she is. She was flying a plane to New York when a passenger became very sick. Zoya made a quick decision to turn the plane around. She landed it back at Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi. This allowed the passenger to get to a hospital right away. Her actions helped save that person's life.
Special Missions
During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, many Indians were stuck in other countries. The Government of India started a special plan called the Vande Bharat Mission. This mission aimed to bring these people home safely. Zoya Agarwal was chosen to be a co-pilot on one of the very first flights for this important mission. She helped bring many people back to India.
Making History with an All-Woman Crew
In 2021, Zoya Agarwal made history again. She was the captain of an all-woman crew. They flew a special first-time flight from San Francisco to Bengaluru. This journey was one of the longest non-stop flights anywhere in the world. It showed that women can achieve incredible things in aviation.
After their historic flight, Zoya and her crew were celebrated. They even appeared on a popular TV show called Indian Idol. This was part of a special episode for Republic Day. Later that same year, the United Nations chose Zoya as a spokesperson. She spoke about "Generation Equality," which means making sure everyone has equal chances.
Honored for Her Work
In August 2022, Zoya Agarwal received a special honor in the United States. The aviation museum at San Francisco International Airport recognized her. They celebrated her amazing career in flying. They also honored her efforts to encourage and support women's empowerment. This means helping women feel strong and capable.
Zoya Agarwal also helped find new, faster ways to fly. With her co-pilots R Someshwar, Sandeep Mukhedkar, and Abhay Agarwal, she piloted an Air India Boeing 777. They flew it over the Hindu Kush mountain range. This new route made flights from Delhi to North America much shorter. Before, planes had to take a longer way because Afghan airspace was closed. This change helped many travelers save time.
