Pilot daughter fulfills flight attendant mother’s dream, flies her before retiring

One lady pilot from India fulfilled her mother’s dream when she operated the plane on her mother’s last day as a flight attendant.

Ashritta Chinchankar from Mumbai, India took to her Twitter page last July 31 to share that she was “honored” to pilot her mother’s last flight.

“So happy and honored to be able to pilot the one flight that mattered,” wrote Ashrrita (@caramelwings) on Twitter as she shared a picture of her and the flight’s crew with her mother.

“It was my mom’s dream to have me pilot her last flight as an Air Hostess with @airindiain,” the lady pilot added. “As she retires after her glorious 38 years of service, I will be carrying on with her legacy.”

https://twitter.com/caramelwings/status/1024194539127558144

In another post that Ashritta shared on the same day, she showed a video of her mother walking down the aisle of the airbus as people applauded her. When her mom reached the back of the plane, she hugged her fellow flight attendants and looked overcome with emotions.

“For all of you who asked,” wrote Ashrrita. “That’s mom on her last flight as an operating cabin crew for @airindiain. What a lovely day and what amazing passengers! So many best wishes and hugs.”

She added, “Of course I was in the flight deck #proud #grateful.”

https://twitter.com/caramelwings/status/1024193027517100032

Ashrrita’s story has since gone viral, amassing thousands of likes from people all over the world. Notable figures, too, caught wind of Ashrrita’s tale and commended her.

Praful Patel, former minister of civil aviation and heavy industries in India tweeted at Ashrrita last July 30, after Ashrrita first made it known that she would be flying her mother on her retirement day.

“Some of the most heart warming and pleasant stories are the ones that happen in real life,” wrote Patel. “Make your mother proud @caramelwings, best wishes to both of you!”

Harsh Goenka, chairman of Indian bussiness group RPG Enterprises, also showed his admiration for Ashrrita.

“An Air India air hostess of 40 years wanted her last flight before retirement to be piloted by her daughter Asshritta Chinchankar,” wrote Goenka in Aug. 1. “This came true yesterday. Passengers clapped, the staff cheered. Real life dreams are made by stories like this.”

Of course, the story wasn’t missed by Air India itself, as the official Air India Twitter account sent their wishes to Ashrrita and her mother.

“@caramelwings Our heartfelt wishes to your mother and you for this special flight when she passes the baton on to you to have the privilege of serving our passengers with dedication,” wrote Air India (@airindiain) last July 31.

“The legacy lives on.” JB

RELATED STORIES: 

Retired female flight attendants win gender discrimination suit vs PAL

Grieving Japanese man given a trip to remember by kind flight attendants