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Children enjoy flight on Air India jumbo

Photo: Special Arrangement

FUN TIME:Actor Mamta Mohandas greets the children on the special Air India flight on Sunday. —

Nedumbassery: Acres of lush green to the north, the graceful Kanyakumari coast, Vivekananda rock, Thriveni Sangam and the shimmering blue-green water everywhere….the children were awe-struck as they looked in wonder through the window, a few thousand feet above the sea.

“So much of water,” exclaimed 10-year-old Nirmal in delight as the aircraft gently banked over the coast to provide him with a view he had never been exposed to. “Look, look, isn't it stunning?'' asked another girl.

For this bunch of young passengers, it was an unusual Children's Day treat on Sunday that they would cherish for a long time, not just for the experience but for the media attention they received during the journey.

The special flight, named ‘Fly with Dreams' indeed was an effort to open up the world of aviation to underprivileged and physically-challenged children.

Nearly 350 children from 31 schools across four districts of Ernakulam, Thrissur, Idukki and Kottayam, had this unique opportunity to experience the joy-ride on board on an Air India Jumbo aircraft.

The flight AI 2010 took off from the international terminal of the Cochin International Airport at 12.20 p.m. and returned after an hour long flight, flying over the west coast to Kanyakumari and touched down here by 1.20 p.m. The aircraft circled above the area for around 30 minutes and the altitude during the flight was maintained at a level so that the children could get a glimpse of the coastal scenic belt of God's own country.

Prior to their departure from here, the children assembled at the international departure hold area and were entertained with a magic show even as Mr.Yezdi Irani, in his trademark ‘Maharaja' attire, turned up at the spot to make the children feel comfortable.

“A really wonderful experience,” said Mr. Yezdi who for the fourth time in a row was accompanying such a special flight from Kochi. “To see the happiness in the children's face, I think, is the most beautiful thing in the world,” he said during the flight.

Earlier, the children accompanied by their attendants went through the check-in procedure, as done by any normal passenger.

A few minutes into flying, the celebrations began onboard with a warm welcome by the cabin crew. The crew distributed sweets to the children.

The mood was even more charged up when Vinayak, along with actor Mamta Mohandas- who accompanied the children, together celebrated their birthday during the flight. There were special invitees including the Education Minister M. A. Baby, apart from a couple of other movie stars.

This was for the fifth time that the national carrier conducting a joyride for the children as a gesture of goodwill on Children's Day.

Like every time, corporate partners such as the CIAL, the Rotary club, Aluva, HPCL, KERA among others, extended their support to the trip.

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