Meet Anny Divya, the world’s youngest pilot who flies Boeing 777, like a boss. Born in Pathankot to an army man, Anny wanted to be a pilot ever since she was a little kid.
When Anny turned 17 in her 12th standard, she got through Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Uran Akademi (IGRUA), the pilot training institute in Uttar Pradesh, and the family took a loan to fund the course.
But the journey from a small town to a pilot’s training academy wasn’t an easy one for the teenager who was often mocked by her peers for her poor English.
She told Hindustan Times:
“The cultural change from a small town to a big city was overwhelming for me. I had difficulty adjusting and speaking English. People used to mock me for my poor English and that hurt me a lot. At times, I thought of going back. However, I didn’t. With my parents’ support, I worked hard enough to win a scholarship.”
At 19, she finished her training and landed a job with Air India.
“During that period, for the first time, I went abroad. I was sent to Spain for training. When I came back, I got the opportunity to fly Boeing 737. Ever since then, there has been no looking back. When I turned 21, I was sent to London for further training. It was then when I started to fly Boeing 777. Since then, my life has changed. It’s been a great experience so far. I’ve got the opportunity to travel to various countries. My journey so far has taught me a lot.”
Anny traveled the world and proved her capabilities to everyone who ever opposed her.
“I am proud to say that India has taken lead over rest of the world including developed countries when it comes to the number of female pilots. In India, 15% woman fly as airline pilots, while globally, it is an average of approximately 5%.”
