'Felt Good': President Murmu Takes Maiden Sortie in Fighter Jet in Assam's Tezpur | WATCH

President Droupadi Murmu on Saturday took her maiden sortie in a fighter aircraft at Tezpur air base in Assam. The president flew in the Sukhoi-30 MKI for approximately 30 minutes and said that she “felt good” after the flight.

The president, who is also the Supreme Commander of the Indian Armed Forces, is on a three day visit to Assam, from April 6 to 8.

Group Captain Naveen Kumar Tiwari flew her in the aircraft from the Indian Air Force base.

The journey covered Brahmaputra and Tezpur valley with a view of the Himalayas. They returned at the Air Force station thereafter.

The aircraft flew at the height of about 2 kilometers above sea level and at a speed of nearly 800 kmph.

The president wrote about her experience in the visitor’s book and said that it was “exhilarating,” according to NDTV.

“It is a matter of pride that India’s defence capabilities have expanded immensely to cover all the frontiers of land, air and sea. I congratulate the Indian Air Force and the entire team of Air Force Station Tezpur for organising this sortie,” she said.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma reacted and said that it was “absolutely breathtaking” to see the president undertake the journey. “The significance of this happening so close to the India-China border is not to be missed,” he said.

With her journey, she became the third president and the second female one to undertake this.

In 2009, former president Pratibha Patil undertook a journey in the frontline fighter aircraft.

With agency inputs

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