Where & How Did India’s 1st Female Naval Fighter Pilot Begin Her Journey?

Where & How Did India’s 1st Female Naval Fighter Pilot Begin Her Journey?

Every time a plane roared across the skies of Meerut, a young Aastha Poonia would rush outside, eyes filled with wonder. That childhood dream took flight on 3 July 2025, when Sub Lieutenant Aastha Poonia was inducted into the Indian Navy’s fighter stream, earning her ‘Wings of Gold’ at a commissioning ceremony at INS Dega, Visakhapatnam. At just 24 years old, she’s now set to fly some of the Navy’s most advanced warplanes, including the MiG-29K,…

India’s Daughters In Uniform: Astha Poonia’s Historic Flight Into Fighter Stream, She Becomes India’s First Woman Navy Fighter Pilot... - EBNW Story

India’s skies thunder with pride as Sub Lieutenant Astha Poonia marks an extraordinary milestone in the annals of naval aviation. In a field once dominated by men, she has emerged as the first woman fighter pilot of the Indian Navy, a trailblazer whose wings bear the strength of a billion dreams. Her achievement is not just a personal victory—it’s a powerful symbol of Nari Shakti, resilience, and the unstoppable rise of women in every battlefiel…