Burqua? Taiyba flies planes, says, cockpit has no dress code; aircraft doesn't care about surname

By Syed Ali Mujtaba*

Taiyba Afroz 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, Taiyaba remained determined to achieve her dream of becoming a commercial pilot. 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 marathon-2-3 years of theory exams (scoring 70%+ 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 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.

As a Muslim woman in a crisp pilot's uniform, Taiyaba faced catcalls: "Shouldn't she be in a Burqa?" To this, she retorts: "The cockpit has no dress code. The aircraft doesn't care about your surname."

A pilot's salary starts at ₹1.5 lakh," but that’s not the trophy Taiyaba aimed to achieve. Her real achievement is being a Muslim girl, coming from a backward region of Bihar, hailing from a weak financial family; she endured all these odds and has come out with flying colors. Her message is; “Look at this Muslim girl, she can fly planes.”

Taiba Afroz is not just a pilot; she's a beacon for every Muslim girl who is told to shrink their dreams. Her success story is a matter of pride as she inspires many young Muslim girls to follow her career path. She is a role model for them.

Taiyaba’s achievement testifies that with perseverance and determination, any goal can be achieved.

Her story screams that; the sky is not the limit, it's the beginning.

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*Journalist

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