On 19 June 2022, SpiceJet SG 723 took off from Patna to Delhi with 200 people on board. Captain Monicaa Khanna, the pilot in command, noticed a bird flying towards the left side of her aircraft as the flight approached take-off speed. “The bird flew straight through my left engine, resulting in an engine malfunction,” she says. It could have been a major tragedy, but her presence of mind and cool competence turned things around.
“My primary goal was to achieve height, as that is the most critical phase of the flight, so we climbed to the minimum safe altitude,” says Captain Monicaa. “And then we performed our non-standard checklist from the quick reference handbook (qrh), which was kept in our cockpit. After completing all of our standard operating procedures, we made a safe single engine landing in Patna,” says Monicaa, who has 11 years of experience and 8000 hours of flying experience till date.
She knew there would be no second chances, and an error of judgement would be a disaster. Captain Monicaa first switched off the affected engine then did an ‘overweight landing’ of flight SG 723 with First Officer Balpreet Singh Bhatia, ensuring that all the 200 people onboard remained unharmed during the emergency landing.
“Everyone was thanking us and blessing us. They were hugging us as we exited the plane, and I still get goosebumps thinking about it,” says Monicaa, adding that she continues to receive thank you messages on social media.
Is she prepared to handle these situations?
“The most important thing for a professional pilot is to strictly adhere to all procedures and SOPs. We receive training at regular intervals. It must be used in a calm and composed manner when necessary. The aviation industry has very high training standards,” says Captain Monicaa.
What was going through her mind at that point?
“You fly the plane, you don’t let the plane fly you,” she replies. “This means you must always be one step ahead of aircraft. That is exactly what my team members and I did. The only thing on my mind at that time was how to safely return my passengers and aircraft to the ground. I had a clear mental picture of everything I needed to do to get out of the emergency situation.”
My father’s pilot
Monicaa, who was born and brought up in Delhi, says she wanted to be a pilot since childhood. “I was very attached to my father. When he went on tours, I would be all teary-eyed and beg him to take me along. Then my father would give me a lollipop and say, ‘Let me go now; I’ll ask the pilot of the plane to fly over our house and then we can wave.’ I used to sit outside and wait for an aircraft to fly by because I believed him. There weren’t many planes in the sky back then. When I saw a plane, I would wave. And while waiting, I would think what I could do to always be with my father. The idea that came to me was to become my father’s pilot, so that I could fly him wherever he wanted to go and stay with him forever. I followed the dream. My parents have always been extremely supportive of me, and as a result, I am here today.”
NO DISCRIMINATION
Did she ever face any discrimination because she was a female pilot? “As a woman, I can only say that in the world, we are always judged by our gender; but in aviation, everyone is treated equally, whether it’s a two-man cockpit or a single-man cockpit. In aviation, everyone undergoes the same training protocol, and after completing it, can occupy the cockpit, irrespective of gender,” she replies.
Most rewarding thing about her job
My office is 41000 ft above ground and has a mesmerizing view out of the front window.
And of course I can travel around the world without buying a ticket.
Best destination
The best destination I have flown till date is Leh. It’s the most beautiful and challenging airfield. I get real good vibes there. It could be because of the weather or the pure hearts of the people there. In Leh, I would say, ‘Love is in the air.’
