Bengaluru: An All-Women Cockpit Crew created a history journey, of 31 hours non-stop from San Francisco to Bengaluru. The All-Women Cockpit Crew operated All India’s inaugural going over the North Pole and taking the Atlantic route to reach the Karnataka capital at the other end of the world. Members of the crew are: Captain Zoya Aggarwal, Captain Papagari Thanmai, Captain Akansha Sonaware and Captain Shivani Manhas.

The flight number AI176 left San Francisco on Saturday at 8.30 PM (local time) and would arrive in Bengaluru at 3.45 AM on Monday, according to Air India sources. Union Minister for Civil Aviation, Hardeep Singh Puri in a tweet, said “Way to go girls! Professional, qualified & confident, the all women cockpit crew takes off from San Francisco to Bengaluru on @airindiain’s flight to fly over the North Pole. Our Nari Shakti achieves a historic first.”

Air India has said this will be the longest commercial flight in the world to be operated by it or any other airline in India. Air India also in a tweet expressed its elation, “Imagine this : -All Women Cockpit Crew. -Longest flight into India. -Crossing the North Pole It’s here & happening! Records broken. History in the making by AI176 from @flySFO to @BLRAirport. AI 176 is cruising at 30000 feet.”