Flight of a Lifetime
At 4:11 a.m. on the 2nd of August, a thousand miles of sky had one final passenger—Mother Pooja Chinchankar, whose graceful 38‑year runway at 39 000 feet was finally closing. The unique twist? She had begged her daughter to take the controls for the last beat of her role as an Air India cabin crew.
Why the Final Flight Matters
Mother Pooja had spent almost four decades guiding travellers from Bengaluru to Mumbai, raising countless smiles and offering a calm hand whenever turbulence bit. She’s now stepping off the apron and onto a calm horizon, but she wanted her last pirouette to be a shared moment between her and her daughter—a part‑of‑life vow to keep the legacy stitched.
“A Dream Realised”
When Madam Pooja’s daughter Ashrrita hopped into the cockpit, the tweet – and the world – went “whoa”:
“So happy and honoured to be able to pilot the one flight that mattered. It was my mum’s dream to have me pilot her last flight as an air hostess with Air India. As she retires after her glorious 38 years of service, I will be carrying on with her legacy.”
That post ripped up the likes‑and‑shares barometer: 14 000 hearts and 2 500 retweets. To an average, it was a warm hug that filled their phones with swipes, but for Ashrrita it was a heart‑ao‑pain memory that kept pigeons perched in the galaxy.
In an interview with the BBC, Ashrrita said:
“I am both happy and overwhelmed. Happy because people can relate to the emotion, and overwhelmed because people are celebrating the goodness.”
Seeing the Tears Wisely
As the passengers roared with applause, Mother Pooja walked the aisle, wiping a glowing tear that captured the moment. Even a video was shot, showing her gratitude scrolling across the plane’s screens, but to keep this story safe from being turned into a pop‑chart track, we only share the image of her bright eyes and the fond “thank‑you” voice.
Air India’s One‑Liner
And the airline itself went short & sweet, tweeting the immortal line: “The legacy lives on.”
Political Support
Former civil‑aviation minister Praful Patel also joined the chorus of cheers:
“Some of the most heartwarming and pleasant stories are the ones that happen in real life.”
What’s Next?
While Mother Pooja takes a few months wandering the globe – dreaming of unwinding on sprawling beach towels or chasing culinary inspirations – Ashrrita believes that travel “sans itinerary” is the best recipe for adventure.
Borrowing the Moment
In short, the last flight was a slender note stitched into the “cabin‑crew” soundtrack of seven decades – a flight that now turns into a ripple that will feel for years to come.
