Overview
- Rashtrapati Bhavan confirmed the mission, with the Rafale piloted by Group Captain Amit Gehani of 17 Squadron ‘Golden Arrows’.
- The flight lasted about 30 minutes over roughly 200 km, reaching around 15,000 feet and approximately 700 km/h before returning to Ambala.
- Air Chief Marshal A P Singh flew in a separate aircraft as the President received a ceremonial guard of honour at the base.
- Murmu called the experience “unforgettable” and said it renewed her pride in India’s defence capabilities; she previously flew in a Sukhoi-30 MKI in 2023.
- Post-sortie photos with Squadron Leader Shivangi Singh visibly countered earlier fabricated claims of her capture during May’s Operation Sindoor, which the government had already debunked.