Keziah Fernandes

~ According to Keziah, Goa's first pilot to take to the air with FLY91, her inspiration is her brother, also a pilot.

~ She became a certified pilot at 19 and a certified instructor at just 20 years of age!

Growing up in Goa, Keziah Fernandes often heard how people from the state were referred to as too laid back to chase ambitious careers.

The peaceful pace of life, the strong sense of community and the comfort of home were constants in her upbringing. But somewhere along the way, the idea took hold that if she wanted to aim higher -- in her specific case, quite literally too -- she would need to leave Goa behind.

"There’s a common perception that people from Goa tend to lead a more laid-back life, which often made me feel that to pursue something ambitious, I’d need to move out of the state," she said.

Today, Keziah (26) is Goa’s first woman pilot flying for FLY91, a pure play regional airline based in her home state, something she once thought would never be possible.

Born in Margao and originally from Cuncolim, Keziah studied at King’s School in Margao and completed her higher secondary at Don Bosco, Panaji. Her interest in aviation began at home. “My initial inspiration came from my brother, who is a pilot himself. Seeing his life; the pictures he would send from the cockpit and the stories he shared, really drew me to that lifestyle.”

Keziah was 16 when she stumbled on a story in a magazine that added fuel to the idea. “Around the same time, I came across a magazine story about an 18-year-old who became the youngest pilot in India... That story really motivated me. I was 16 then and thought, ‘If she can do it, I can too.’”

Keziah began her training journey at 17 in the United States. “After my 12th standard, I initially stayed in Delhi for a short period before moving to the US. I was optimistic that I’d become a pilot quickly, perhaps by the age of 18. However, delays meant I obtained my commercial licence at 19.”

Rather than return immediately to India, she chose a less common route. “I was fortunate to receive strong guidance from my instructors, who encouraged me to become a flight instructor... I became a certified instructor at 20. I was the only female pilot in my school at the time, which brought its own set of challenges, both in terms of gender and age.”

Eventually, she decided to return home. “I missed home and didn’t want to settle abroad. One day, I simply packed my bags and came back to India. That’s when I discovered FLY91... it felt like the perfect match.”

Flying with FLY91 marked a turning point. “It was a magical experience, one filled with excitement, nerves and immense pride... Representing Goa on a Goan airline felt surreal.” FLY91, which launched its services last year, is committed to connecting underserved destinations like Goa; Maharashtra's Sindhudurg, Jalgaon, Solapur and Pune regions; Agatti in the Lakshadweep islands, Hyderabad and Bengaluru.

Her first sector was Pune–Sindhudurg-Goa. “I had never visited Sindhudurg before, despite its proximity to Goa, but I found it to be a beautiful and promising location.”

She’s also experienced gender bias in the cockpit. “Even today, passengers are often surprised to see a woman in the cockpit... I often felt I had to work harder to prove myself, not just as a woman, but as someone young and physically smaller.”

But confidence, she says, goes a long way. “I started projecting confidence, even when I didn’t feel it— and eventually it became real.”

To young girls in Goa dreaming of aviation, her advice is measured and clear: “Do your research, reach out to flight schools, talk to people in the industry and ask questions... Being a girl from Goa is not a limitation. In fact, it’s a strength and part of a journey you should be proud of.”