Ayesha Farooq

Ayesha Farooq
عائشہ فاروق
Born
Aviation career
First flight2013
Chengdu J-7
Air force Pakistan Air Force
Rank Flight Lieutenant, Squadron Leader

Ayesha Farooq (Urdu: عائشہ فاروق) is a Pakistani fighter pilot from Hasilpur, Bahawalpur District, who was the first woman to become a fighter pilot in the Pakistan Air Force (PAF).[1][2]

In 2013, she became the first Pakistani female fighter pilot after topping the final exams to qualify. She now flies missions in a Chinese-made Chengdu J-7 fighter jet alongside her 24 male colleagues in 20th Squadron .[3] Of the 6 current female fighter pilots in the PAF, Flight Lieutenant Ayesha is the only one qualified for combat and to fly sorties along the border.[4]

She is one of 19 women to have become pilots in the PAF since the 2000s.[5]

References

  1. ^ "Meet Ayesha Farooq, Pakistan's only female war-ready fighter pilot". The Economic Times. Archived from the original on 2018-12-25. Retrieved 2013-06-13.
  2. ^ "Pakistan fighter pilot Ayesha Farooq wins battle of gender, now she's ready for war". India.com. 13 June 2013. Archived from the original on 17 June 2013. Retrieved 17 January 2014.
  3. ^ Crilly, Rob (2 September 2013). "I'm ready for war, says first female Pakistani pilot Ayesha Farooq". India.com. Retrieved 17 January 2014.
  4. ^ "Pride of Pakistan: Ayesha Farooq". Daily Times. 2018-08-27. Retrieved 2020-11-24.
  5. ^ "Ayesha Farooq | Special Lecture Series | The Aga Khan University". www.aku.edu. Retrieved 2020-11-24.