Dream of Being in Cockpit Realised; IndiGo Pilot Shares Emotional Tirumala Sight
Captain Manjeet Singh clarified that the aircraft did not fly over the temple
TIRUPATI: A routine Ahmedabad-Chennai passenger flight off the Tirumala Hills on March 30 became a personal milestone for an IndiGo pilot. The moment came to limelight after a video of the Tirumala Hills recorded by a passenger while the plane had been landing at Tirupati went viral.
Sharing his experience on social media, Captain Manjeet Singh recalled his first visit to Tirupati years ago, when he had aspired to become a pilot with no resources or clarity.
“Years ago, I stood at Tirupati for the first time, with nothing but a dream of becoming a pilot. And today, I got to see Tirumala from the sky. It feels like my life has become a full circle”, the flight captain said.
The pilot noted that passengers on board experienced a sense of calm as the plane curved over Tirumala, associated with Lord Venkateswara.
Captain Manjeet Singh clarified that the aircraft did not fly over the temple. It had maintained a safe distance at an altitude of around 15,000 feet or above. Airlines avoid flying directly above the temple out of respect for religious sentiments and safety considerations.
The pilot pointed out that circling is part of a routine aviation procedure for managing the aircraft’s descent. “As the distance between Tirupati and Chennai is relatively short, the plane starts descending from around 22,000 feet with Air Traffic Control clearance with a brief orbit of about three to four minutes to safely reduce the altitude,” the captain explained.
The passenger’s video is, however, drawing mixed reactions online. While several users appreciate the pilot’s explanation and described the moment as meaningful, others question whether such manoeuvres near a sensitive religious site are appropriate, even if technically permissible.
Manjeet Singh reiterated that the plane’s manoeuvre had been a normal operational requirement carried out in line with safety norms.