Dream of Being in Cockpit Realised; IndiGo Pilot Shares Emotional Tirumala Sight

Tirupati: A routine flight near Tirumala hills turned into a personal milestone for an IndiGo pilot, marking a full-circle moment from early struggle to the cockpit.

The Ahmedabad–Chennai flight on March 30 briefly circled near the Tirumala hills as part of a standard descent procedure before landing. The moment drew attention after a passenger shared a video recorded inside the cabin.

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 without resources or direction.

“Years ago, I stood at Tirupati with nothing but a dream of becoming a pilot. Today, circling above Tirumala, it felt like life had come full circle,” he said.

He added that passengers experienced a sense of calm during the brief circling near Tirumala, associated with Lord Venkateswara.

Clarifying the operation, Captain Singh said the aircraft did not fly over the temple and maintained a safe distance at an altitude of around 15,000 feet or above. He explained that Tirupati is not restricted airspace, though airlines generally avoid flying directly above the temple out of respect for religious sentiments and safety.

He said the circling was part of a routine aviation procedure to manage descent. “While approaching Chennai from the north, the aircraft descended from around 22,000 feet. As the distance between Tirupati and Chennai is short, a brief orbit of three to four minutes was carried out to reduce altitude safely, with Air Traffic Control clearance,” he said.

The video, however, drew mixed reactions online. While many appreciated the pilot’s explanation and described the moment as meaningful, others questioned whether such manoeuvres near a sensitive religious site were appropriate, even if permissible.

Singh reiterated that the manoeuvre was not a religious act but a standard operational requirement carried out in line with safety norms.