Daughter Flies Father Home
TDT| Manama
Email: mail@newsofbahrain.com
It was a regular flight from Kerala, India to Bahrain, but for one family it turned into a journey written in the skies. Seated among the passengers was long-time Bahrain expatriate Sathish Mudalayil. At the controls was his daughter, Shruthi, once the youngest female Coast Guard pilot in South India and now a First Officer with IndiGo Airlines.
Emotional Takeoff
Passengers on board were surprised when Shruthi stepped out from the cockpit before takeoff, not in uniformed silence but with words that carried a personal weight. “This is a very special flight for me,” she began. Her voice, steady but brimming with pride, filled the cabin as she revealed the reason.
“The person responsible or who has supported me and is the reason for me joining the skies is travelling today on this flight. That is none other than my father, who is seated in 1A. His unwavering support has given me all the strength to soar thousands of feet into the skies. Welcome on board, Papa.”
A hush gave way to smiles as she continued, updating passengers on the flight time and cruising altitude. She ended her announcement simply: “Thank you Indigo for giving me this opportunity. Thank you once again. I’m very blessed. Thank you.”
Bahrain Connection
For Sathish, returning to Bahrain carried a special resonance. A native of Parassinikadavu in Kannur, he has spent nearly forty years in the Kingdom, where he and his wife Leena are known in the art and cultural community. Their daughter’s airborne tribute was a reminder of the bond that has tied their family to Bahrain since Shruthi first studied at the Indian School in Manama in grade two.
After eight years of service as a Coast Guard Deputy Commandant, Shruthi moved into commercial aviation last year. Her husband, Devaraj Iyani, is also a Senior First Officer with IndiGo. The couple lives in Kerala with their young daughter, while Shruthi’s sister Swathi resides in Australia.
Long before this airborne tribute, Shruthi had already flown into the skies of compassion, participating in the 2018 Kerala flood rescue mission with her pilot husband, delivering food and hope to those in crisis.
Community Inspiration
For Bahrain’s expatriates, the moment felt larger than a family tribute, it was a story of dreams carried home at 36,000 feet. The flight touched down, but Shruthi’s words still linger in the air like a gentle echo of pride.
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