Who Is Shivangi Singh? The Wing Commander Flew With President Murmu At Ambala

On October 29, Wing Commander Shivangi Singh and President Droupadi Murmu undertook a historic sortie in the French-made fighter jet from the Ambala Air Force Station. It is the home to the elite Golden Arrows Squadron and the first fleet of India’s advanced combat aircraft. They both flew 200 kilometres at an altitude of 15,000 feet and a speed of about 700 km/h in two fighter aircraft, the Sukhoi-30 MKI in 2023, which is now the Rafale. The 30-minute sortie was indeed an unforgettable flight for President Murmu, the first Indian President to fly in the Rafale.

Who Is Shivangi Singh?

After visiting the Air Force Museum in New Delhi as a child, Shivangi Singh dreamt of becoming a pilot. She hails from Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, and is an alumna of Banaras Hindu University (BHU). After graduating, she was admitted to the Indian Air Force Academy (AFA) in Hyderabad, where she underwent intensive training to become a fighter pilot. Shivangi began her aviation career flying one of the IAF’s most demanding aircraft, MiG-21 Bison.

In 2017, as part of the second batch of women fighter pilots, she was commissioned into the Indian Air Force (IAF). In 2022, she was selected for Rafale conversion training that included advanced simulator sessions, mastering the jet’s cutting-edge systems, gaining tactical instruction from French experts, and learning precision-strike capabilities that define the Rafale’s reputation as a 4.5-generation fighter. In 2023, she represented India at Exercise Orion 2023 in France, where the Indian Air Force participated alongside leading global air forces.

“The sortie on Rafale is an unforgettable experience for me. This first flight on the potent Rafale aircraft has instilled in me a renewed sense of pride in the nation’s defence capabilities. I congratulate the Indian Air Force and the entire team of Air Force Station, Ambala for… pic.twitter.com/Ud3LX8uqBU — President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) October 29, 2025

2025 is indeed a landmark year for Shivangi as she played a vital role in the President’s Rafale sortie. After the flight, President Murmu penned down her thoughts in the station’s visitor book. She stated, “The sortie on Rafale is an unforgettable experience for me. This first flight on the potent Rafale aircraft has instilled in me a renewed sense of pride in the nation’s defence capabilities.“