New Delhi: An Indigo airlines pilot is winning hearts of netizens in the country after he spectacularly captured the launch of a Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) by Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) mid-air from the cockpit of the plane he was flying on April 1. Since it was posted on April 1, it was initially taken to be an April Fools' Day prank by many, but Captain Karun Karumbaya did indeed capture the launch of the satellite from a distance of 50 nautical miles from Sriharikota, the site of the launch.
In the 44-second video clip, the pilot can be heard announcing to the passengers, "Ladies and gentlemen, on the right look outside the window you can see the PSLV launch. It is a rocket taking off." And then he goes on to admire the moment, saying, "Beauty yaar! Wow! That's amazing."
The video has gone viral on social media and got the Twitterati talking about it. Here's what they had to say:
PSLV launch as seen by Capt Karun Karumbaya, ex 224 Sqn, from the cockpit of his Indigo A – 320! The aircraft was 50nm from the launch site.
@ashwinichannan pic.twitter.com/Kbco5u8HTW— Manoj Kumar Channan (@manojchannan) April 1, 2019
january se may tk aa gye h????????…anyways that mission is very imp fr India's prestige..so maybe the delay is to rechk every system so dat the mission is a cent percent success
— Anu (@anu_led) April 1, 2019
Unique experience.. this is sooper awesome!!! #PSLVC45 #ISRO
— Sankar Arumugam (@SArumugam2017) April 1, 2019
Next time when the air hostess will ask me to turnoff my camera, I am going to show her this clip.
— Santosh Gairola (@santoshgairola) April 1, 2019
OMG
Sir Thanking U your video Really Amazing Shoot
God Bless and An Ex 224 Sgn
I m Proud of you
Thank you Sir— CK SWAMY PJ (@vcantogetherdo) April 1, 2019
Thank God,we have solid proof now , Opposition is unlucky this time at least
— ParambathP (@ParambathP) April 1, 2019
One of a kind event captured
— chowkidar J C (@jineshchheda) April 1, 2019
What a nice view you got sir….full screen on phone itself is not making us feel watching live ..lucky you
— chpurnachandrarao (@chpurnachandra1) April 1, 2019
Its rare that a civil aviation pilot has to look up like that, he clearly enjoyed it!
— Anand B Pillai (@skeptichacker) April 1, 2019
Great video! You should have chased it shouting GO INDIGO GO… ????????
— @arunhitaishi (@arunhitaishi) April 1, 2019
The EMISAT satellite was launched along with 28 nanosatellites of global customers from Sriharikota space station. It was a first-of-its-kind mission and was watched keenly across the world as ISRO placed payloads in three orbits and conducted space experiments for the first time. The satellite is aimed at electromagnetic measurement.
The feat came just days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauded the success of 'Mission Shakti' in which India demonstrated anti-satellite missile capability by shooting down a live satellite. The PM had said in an address to the nation that the action was not directed against any country.