Look at this Muslim girl, she can fly planes

In a dark irony, as a Muslim woman in a crisp pilot’s uniform, Taiyaba faced catcalls: ‘Shouldn’t she be in a burqa?’ To this, she retorted: ‘The cockpit has no dress code. The aircraft doesn’t care about your surname’

By Syed Ali Mujtaba

Taiyba Afroz has created history by becoming a commercial pilot. The Muslim girl hails from a modest family. Her father, Motiul Haq, runs a ration shop in the Madhoura locality in the Saran district of Bihar, and her mother, Samsun Nisha, is a homemaker.

Despite such challenges and constraints of a humble background, Taiyaba remained determined to achieve her dream of becoming a commercial pilot. She cherished her dream, and worked hard for it. 

Finally, her journey began in 2019 when she joined the Government Aviation Training Institute in Bhubaneswar. There, she logged 200 grueling flight hours, battling storms, monsoons, and self-doubt.

Taiyaba’s training was a marathon three years of theory exams (scoring 70% plus in DGCA papers), simulator drills, and mastering the art of safe landings. “Flying solo for 100 hours was terrifying, but fear never griped my mind,” she recalls.

Later, in 2023, she completed 120 hours of training at the Indore Flying Club. After all this, Taiyaba finally obtained her license from the DDCA. She was certified to become a commercial pilot and can fly any commercial plane in the country. 

This is no mean achievement for a young woman who had to struggle really hard to fulfil her high aspirations. However, there were also negative voices, which could not defeat her at all.

In a dark irony, as a Muslim woman in a crisp pilot’s uniform, Taiyaba faced catcalls: “Shouldn’t she be in a burqa?” To this, she retorted: 

“The cockpit has no dress code. The aircraft doesn’t care about your surname.”

A pilot’s salary starts at Rs 1.5 lakh. But that is not the trophy, Taiyaba aimed to achieve. Her real achievement is being a Muslim girl from Kashmir, coming from a backward region of Bihar, hailing from a family with weak financial resources; she endured all these odds and has come out with flying colours. 

Her message is; “Look at this Muslim girl, she can fly planes.”

Taiba Afroz is not just a pilot; she’s a beacon and inspiration for every girl in India coming from humble backgrounds, especially Muslim girls, who are told to shrink their dreams. Her success story is a matter of pride for the entire country and her community, as she inspires many young girls across caste and community, to follow her career path. 

Truly, she is a role model.

Taiyaba’s achievement testifies that with perseverance and determination, any goal can be achieved. Her story is simple. The sky is not the limit, it’s the beginning.

Photo and report: Courtesy https://kashmirtimes.com/