A dream come true: 48 kids fly for the first time

The initiative titled ‘Dream Flying’ flew the children on a special flight (ATR72) which was operated by Indigo Airlines free of charge. The children were also given t-shirts by Indigo airlines. As the part of the celebration, actor Sathish was invited to spend time with them and a cake cutting ceremony held.

The Airport officials had chosen students from four governments schools in Meenambakkam, Anagaputhur, Polichalur, and Cowl Bazaar. The officials asked the school management to select 12 underprivileged students from Class 6 to Class 9 from each school who had never travelled on an aircraft before. One teaching staff from each school was also selected.

The children were asked to gather at the Chennai International Airport at 7.30 am on Wednesday. The children’s excitement extended on to their parents who came along to send them off. The children boarded the flight by 8.45 am and they took off at 9 am. The aircraft was operated by pilot R Ashok.

Officials said that the aircraft usually flies at a height of 25,000 ft, but today it was operated at 16,000 ft height to provide an aerial view of the city for the children.

The aircraft flew over the city and went to Puducherry, besides Malaikottai in Tiruchy and Kancheepuram. The flight landed back in Chennai at 10.25 am.

After alighting the flight, there was a noticeable joy on the faces of the children. The airport director G Chandramouli and Indian Oil Corporation General Manager Savitha Natrajan welcomed the children and presented them with gifts and food.

One of the children said that he used to listen to the sound of the aircraft and watch it fly overhead, but this was the first time he has seen it up close. “Every time when I see an aircraft flying, I look up and dream of traveling on it. Now that dream has been fulfilled,” said another student.

He also expressed their plan to do this again this next year and to increase the number of children. Senior Vice President of Indigo Airlines Ashim Mittra and Actor Sathish also travelled on the flight along with the children.