Zoya Agarwal

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Zoya Agarwal is an Indian commercial pilot for Air India, born in Delhi. She became the youngest Indian woman to fly the Boeing 777 in 2013. In 2015, she helped save a passenger’s life on a flight to New York by turning back to land in Delhi when the traveler fell ill. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she co-piloted Air India’s first repatriation flight as part of the Vande Bharat Mission.

In 2021, she captained an all-women crew on Air India’s inaugural non-stop flight from San Francisco to Bengaluru, one of the world’s longest routes, and the crew later appeared on Indian Idol's Republic Day episode. The United Nations named her a spokesperson for Generation Equality that year. In 2022, the San Francisco International Airport museum honored her for her aviation career and for promoting women’s empowerment.

Agarwal also piloted Air India’s first Boeing 777 over the Hindu Kush mountains, shortening flight times to North America after Afghan airspace restrictions. Air India had already begun flying its 787s over the Hindu Kush.