A young man from Handwara has successfully achieved his childhood dream of becoming a pilot, securing a job with Air India after years of dedication and training. The young pilot has a remarkable journey, which saw him transition from humble beginnings in Kashmir to the skies of India.
Owais Manzoor, 21, from Hanjishart village, began his early education at Welkin School in Sopore and studied there until the 8th grade before moving to Handwara Public School to complete his secondary education.“After finishing class 10, I joined Boys Higher Secondary School in Handwara for my class 12 studies,” he recalled.
Following his higher secondary education, the aspiring pilot opened up to his parents about his dream of pursuing aviation. “My parents were incredibly supportive of my goals. They understood my passion and immediately sent me to Delhi for my initial training, which included ground training,” he said.
After completing his TGC exams, he continued his training in Karnataka at the Redwood Flighting Academy. There, he underwent 200 hours of intensive flight training, specialising in Jet Engine A320 preparation, an essential component of his future airline career.“I applied for a vacancy with Air India, and fortunately, I cleared it,” the pilot revealed with pride.
His father, Manzoor Ahmad Sheikh, an engineer, told reporters that though he wanted his son to pursue a particular path in his career he had decided for himself. “While I got him books, he silently got Mathematics books and took it as a subject,” he said. “Then he confided of his dream and reluctantly I agreed because I had no idea of this field.”
While the aviation industry is often perceived as unconventional in a region where most families traditionally push their children towards careers in medicine, engineering, or teaching, the young pilot’s story stands out. “It was my childhood dream to become a pilot,” he said. “I’ve always been drawn to careers that are a little out of the box, and my cousins have also pursued unconventional paths, which gave me the green light to go for it.”
With unwavering support from his family and a clear sense of direction, this Kashmiri youth is now living his dream, soaring above the clouds, and inspiring others in the valley to follow their unique ambitions.
