Bhubaneswar: Welcome Aboard, Junior Flyers. The dream of flying high finally became a reality for 43 specially-abled children of Odisha as they took a joyride for the first time aboard a special flight from Biju Patnaik International Airport (BPIA) here today.
After a few special programmes like art exhibition ‘MY DREAMFLIGHT’ and performance by children at Terminal-1 of the airport, the divyang kids boarded their flight at 9.30 am. Air India subsidiary, Alliance Air took the children mostly belonging to Bhubaneswar localities for a 40-minute plane ride in the special flight.
“I never took a flight journey in my lifetime. It was exciting, and I am really happy to have boarded the special flight for the first time,” said an elated divyang flyer.
“I'm pleased that the unprivileged children experienced flight ride for the first time. Alliance Air provided me a boarding pass and invited me to accompany the children in the journey. It was heartening to witness the first time experience of children boarding a flight,” said Sruti Mohapatra, chief executive of Swabhiman NGO.
State minister Ashok Panda, Union Civil Aviation Joint Secretary Usha Padhee, social activist Sruti Mohapatra, senior officials and Ollywood stars Akash Dasnayak, Sabyasachi Mishra were present at the airport to see off the children.
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