Quick Info
| Profession | Indian Navy Officer |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Indian |
| Birthplace | Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, India |
Latest News about Aastha Punia
03/07/2025
Sub Lieutenant Aastha Poonia made history as the Indian Navy's first female fighter pilot by successfully completing the Basic Hawk Conversion Course on the Hawk 132 advanced jet trainer at INS Dega in Visakhapatnam. She received the prestigious Wings of Gold from Rear Admiral Janak Bevli, Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Air), alongside Lieutenant Atul Kumar Dhull. She is now undergoing a year-long advanced training programme to qualify for operating MiG-29K fighter jets from aircraft carriers INS Vikramaditya and INS Vikrant.
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Bio/Wiki
| Other Name | Aastha Poonia |
|---|---|
| Famous for | Being the first woman fighter pilot of Indian Navy |
Physical Stats & More
| Height | 5' 6" (168 cm) |
|---|---|
| Weight | 55 Kg (121 lbs) |
| Eye Color | Black |
| Hair Color | Black |
Educational Qualification(s)
| School | S.D. Inter College, Civil Lines, Muzaffarnagar |
|---|---|
| College/University | Banasthali Vidyapith (Banasthali University), Tonk, Rajasthan (2019-2023) |
| Degree | Bachelor of Technology in Computer Science and Engineering (B.Tech CSE) |
Personal Life
| Religion | Hinduism |
|---|---|
| Caste | Jat |
Relationships & More
| Marital Status | Unmarried |
|---|
Family
| Father | Arun Punia (Maths teacher in Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, Sardhana, Meerut) |
|---|---|
| Mother | Sanyogita Chaudhary (Principal of a primary school in Baghra, Muzaffarnagar) |
| Siblings | Brother - Harshvardhan Punia (Student, younger) |
Career
| Summary | Aastha Poonia is a trailblazer in the Indian Navy, recognized as the first woman to advance into the fighter pilot stream. She has a notable academic background, having received her B.Tech in Computer Science from Banasthali Vidyapith. Following rigorous training at the Indian Naval Academy, she was awarded the Wings of Gold on 03/07/2025 at INS Dega in Visakhapatnam, marking her historic entry into a male-dominated field. As Sub Lieutenant Aastha Poonia, she completed the Basic Hawk Conversion Course on the Hawk 132 advanced jet trainer and is undergoing advanced training to qualify for operating MiG-29K fighter jets from aircraft carriers INS Vikramaditya and INS Vikrant. |
|---|---|
| Rank | Sub Lieutenant |
| Service Entry | Short Service Commission route |
Social Media
| https://www.linkedin.com/in/aastha-poonia-2b21b4207/ |
Some Lesser Known Facts
| 1. Aastha hails from Hisawada village in Khekada tehsil of Baghpat district, Uttar Pradesh. | |
| 2. She was passionate about flying from a young age, often rushing to the roof to watch airplanes. | |
| 3. Completing her 12th grade in a non-medical stream, she pursued a degree while interning with DRDO. | |
| 4. Aastha undertook two internships at Hewlett-Packard Enterprise before her selection in the Indian Navy. | |
| 5. She graduated on July 3, 2025, becoming a pioneer among women in naval aviation. | |
| 6. She joined the Indian Navy through the Short Service Commission route. | |
| 7. Unlike many fighter pilots, her background is not rooted in military families, making her achievement even more remarkable. |