Iconic Indigo flight: MP Rajiv Rudy as captain, Nirmala Sitharaman, CJI Chandrachud among passengers

Reeti Sahai with Nirmala Sitharaman and Rajiv Pratap Rudy (@defaultrunner/X)

Entrepreneur Reeti Sahai recently had a memorable flight with Indigo – not only did she fly alongside certified VIPs like the chief justice of India, even the captain of her flight was a VIP. Sahai’s Indigo flight was captained by Rajiv Pratap Rudy, a BJP leader and member of parliament from Bihar. And among her co-passengers, she counted Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and the Chief Justice of India, DY Chandrachud.

Rajiv Pratap Rudy is a trained pilot who flies on an honorary basis with IndiGo from time to time to keep his flying license active. As a parliamentarian, he is no longer a full-time pilot.

“Historic flight with Indigo indeed,” Reeti Sahai wrote on X as she shared two selfies – one with Rudy and the other with Nirmala Sitharaman.

“Rajiv Pratap Rudy as Captain and Ma’am Nirmala Sitharaman and the Chief Justice of India on board,” she added along with the hashtags iconic, historic and Indigo.

Historic flight @IndiGo6E indeed ! @RajivPratapRudy as Captain and Ma’am @nsitharaman and the Chief Justice of India on board. #iconic#historic#indigo#indiawithindigopic.twitter.com/wmfHuWhYvt

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— Reeti Sahai (@defaultrunner) December 2, 2023

The official handle of Indigo responded to her post, writing: “Thank you for sharing your delightful experience on board, Ma'am. We'll convey your appreciation to Mr Rudy and the team. We're looking forward to having you onboard with us soon.”

When one X user asked why Sahai could not get a selfie with the CJI, she said that Chandrachud was whisked away by security before she could do so.

Rajiv Pratap Rudy is a trained pilot and the only Indian parliamentarian to fly a commercial aircraft. The MP from Saran constituency in Bihar has also served as the civil aviation minister in the past.

Prior to becoming a minister in the Narendra Modi government, was hired as a co-pilot by IndiGo on an honorary basis. “I fly to retain my licence because being a minister does not enable me to retain my licence,” he was quoted as saying by PTI in 2017.