Three young women – Captain Zoya Agarwal, Nikeetaa Takkale and Meghana Sakpal – three trajectories. One destination: The stars. While Captain Zoya Agarwal and Nikeetaa Takkale get candid with Priyanka Chandani, Maharashtra’s first female firefighter, Meghana Sakpal shares insight into her journey with Mrunal Jadhav, all leading right up to that one moment of time when they shattered the glass ceiling.
Women in India have m a d e significant strides in establishing themselves as pioneers on the global stage. In a ground breaking a c h i e v e m e n t , four women, led by Captain Zoya Agarwal etched their names in history by completing a journey spanning nearly 16,000 kilometres from San Francisco to Bengaluru by air — marking the longest non-stop commercial route ever undertaken. This landmark moment marked the first time an all-women crew ventured this route.
Zoya was next in line to lead India’s Vande Bharat Mission, an evacuation operation aimed at repatriating Indian nationals from various countries back to their homeland during the COVID-19 pandemic.
From North Pole to SFO Museum
In 2022, Agarwal secured her spot in the San Francisco Aviation Museum, becoming the sole individual to achieve recognition as a pilot in the coveted space. During this conversation, Zoya shares all that went into completing the mission, what it entails to be the first woman pilot to fly over the North Pole, braving emotional challenges, her many achievements, her life beyond work and more. “The journey was indeed difficult, but I treasured every minute of it. It is truly breathtaking when you realise you will be crossing the North Pole when the compass will turn 180 degrees. Taking off and landing over the North Pole is not for the faint of heart,” said Captain Zoya, who is the first female pilot to fly over the North Pole, feels honoured and humbled by the trust shown by the civil aviation ministry and her flag carrier – Air India. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to pilot a Boeing 777 on its first SFO-BLR flight, one of the world’s longest flights over the North Pole.”
Flying High
Having been announced the first Indian to enter the SFO Aviation Museum in San Francisco, Zoya is convinced that India has much to offer to the global aviation industry which should inspire women around the globe to follow their dreams. “If you ask an eight-year-old girl who used to sit on her balcony, looking at the sky and dreaming of becoming a pilot, it’s a dream come true for me that this recognition has been given to me by the United States. I am grateful that I have inspired many women to pursue their dreams in every possible way,” said the pilot.
Up where she belongs
While Zoya is thrilled with her achievements, her journey hasn’t been easy, especially when it comes to braving emotional upheavals. The hurdles in her career began at home when she chose to seek an aviation career. “My mother was sobbing when I initially told her I wanted to be a pilot. My parents thought that a woman wanting to be a pilot was not ‘normal’, and they encouraged me to choose the conventional road that led to marriage and settle down. When I look back on all those hurdles, I feel that I have come out of it stronger with impeccable passion for my profession,” said Zoya and added that working hard to learn and get recognition in the aviation sector is what finally helped her get her parents’ support and appreciation. “My parents are still my biggest supporters.”
Giving wings
Carving her path in a maledominated world, Zoya is the fifth girl to join Air India. She said, at present, women pilots secure 5 percent of its strength globally. Until 2016, several airlines would not even consider employing female pilots due to sexism in the Indian aviation business. Zoya observes that the world is changing and so is the way to look at women. “I’ve had to battle hard to demonstrate to everyone around me the power of women in this industry and to dispel the gender stereotypes that surround aviation,” she said. Unlike many other airlines in India and across the world, which did not allow women 17 years ago, Zoya cleared that she wasn’t treated unfairly because of her gender. “There will always be people who do not believe in me, and I have utilized this as a driving force to stay on top of my game. It all comes down to dedication, hard work, and passion,” she said matter-of-factly.
Zoya lead India’s Vande Bharat Mission, an evacuation operation aimed at repatriating Indian nationals from various countries during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Making the trap
More achievements come with more responsibilities and Zoya agreed to feel overwhelmed at some point. However, she has a healthier way to look at those circumstances by believing that she holds the power to bring change in this world. As a public figure, she feels that to bring change in society one has to take up the responsibility and lead the way for the masses. “I firmly believe that women are good at multitasking as they can pull off any responsibility that has been delegated to them. It gives me immense pleasure that I can work hard to achieve every milestone that comes my way and to inspire not just women but everyone across the globe,” she stated.
Speaking about some of the most cherished moments of her life as a pilot, Zoya recalled a time when she, along with her team were able to save many lives during the COVID-19 pandemic. “When we flew a flight full of people amidst the pandemic (Vande Bharat Mission) and could help people meet their families and loved ones. It makes you realise that you have so much responsibility on your shoulders and people blindly put their faith in you and trust you with their lives. While I was walking out of the cockpit, I could see tears in people’s eyes that left a massive impact on me. There was applause as everyone was appreciating our efforts, but the smile on people’s faces was something that I will cherish for the rest of my life,” she signed off.
