Jet Airways celebrates Children's Day with 'Flight of Fancy'

Mumbai, Nov 14 (UNI) For the 70-odd children from different schools of the city, today was certainly their day, for even a journey in an air-conditioned coach of a train was something that these kids had never thought of, let alone flying at a height of 15,000 feet amidst the blue skies in a Boeing 777-800 aircraft.

Aboard 'Flight of Fantasy', specially operated by private carrier Jet Airways to mark Children's Day, children had a gala time as the flight took off from the city's domestic Chhatrapati Shivaji terminal at 1640 hrs and after hovering over the Mumbai skies for nearly 45 minutes, landed back at the airport at around 1730 hrs.

The flight was operated in support of non-governmental organisations -- Vision in Social Arena, ASEEMA and Magic Bus, which work for the betterment of children living in disadvantaged circumstances.

''It was a unique experience. Travelling in an aircraft was something I had never thought of. In the beginning, I was a bit scared, but when I saw those tall buildings and the blue sky, I felt excited,'' said Kanak Lali, a standard IV student from Muncipal school and a resident of one of the slum areas.

For 11-year-old girl Rukhsar, too, it was a lifetime experience as it was a different journey altogether.

''We do travel in local trains, but then the journey is full of difficulties. This journey is something I had never ever imagined in my life,'' she said with a sense of pride.

Before the flight of fantasy took off, a special function was held at the airport lounge, which included a magic show as well as dance and music show for the children. It was attended by Bollywood actor and civil liberty activist Rahul Bose and P K Sinha, vice president (International Relations and Industry Affairs) of Jet Airways.

UNI