IAF all-women crew creates history, flies Mi-17 helicopter 

An all-women crew of the Indian Air Force flew a medium-lift helicopter on Monday for the first time in India.

The crew comprised Flight Lieutenant Parul Bhardwaj, who was led the team, Flying Officer Aman Nidhi and Flight Lieutenant Hina Jaiswal. “The all women crew flew a Mi-17 V5 helicopter for a Battle Inoculation Training mission taking off and landing from restricted areas at a forward air base in South Western air command,” the Air Force said.

While Flight Lieutenant Parul hails from Mukerian in Punjab and is also the first woman to fly a Mi-17 V5, Flying Officer Aman Nidhi belongs to Ranchi and is the first woman IAF pilot from Jharkhand. Flight Lieutenant Hina Jaiswal hails from Chandigarh and is the first woman flight engineer of the Indian Air Force.

Before creating history, the pilots underwent a basic training at the Helicopter Training School at Air Force Station Hakimpet followed by an advanced training at Air Force Station Yelahanka.

The helicopter was certified airworthy by Squadron Leader Richa Adhikari, who is the unit engineering officer.