Imphal: Two siblings from Manipur have found a shared career in aviation after joining Air India as cabin crew, with the elder sister’s career inspiring her younger brother to follow her into the profession.
According to Air India, Wahengbam Sureiya and Rohit Singh grew up in Imphal, eight years apart. Sureiya became the first member of their family to pursue aviation when she joined the cabin crew in 2014.
Air India said Rohit was inspired by his sister’s experiences of flying and travelling to different parts of the world. He later joined the airline as cabin crew, beginning a career similar to the one Sureiya had started a decade earlier.
The siblings now work for the same airline and operate on different rosters and flights. Air India said their shared profession has brought them closer, as both understand the demands of long-haul flights, irregular schedules, changing rosters and time away from home.
“Working for the same airline has definitely brought us closer,” Sureiya said, according to Air India. She said they share experiences, support each other and learn from one another.
Rohit said having a sibling who understands the demands of aviation means they can relate to each other’s experiences without having to explain the challenges of the job.
The siblings also sometimes find themselves on airport standby at the same location. According to Air India, they use such occasions to spend time together, catch up and share experiences from their respective flights.
One of their memorable moments came when both were assigned airport standby and later allocated the same cab home. As they live together, the transport system generated the same address for both crew members, prompting the driver to call the transport team to verify the booking.
Air India said the siblings continue to support each other outside work as well. Rohit said regular calls from his sister help him feel at home while travelling, while Sureiya said her brother sometimes cooks a warm meal for her after she returns from a long flight.
Sureiya said she admires Rohit’s positivity, calm nature and dependability, while Rohit credited his sister’s confidence, professionalism and kindness as qualities that inspired him to pursue the same career.
Air India highlighted the siblings’ story as an example of how the airline’s cabin crew members can build careers that take them across cities and countries while maintaining close family connections.
The airline shared their story on its newsroom on August 28.
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