Egypt's Minister of Civil Aviation Sherif Fathi witnessed the take-off of two EgyptAir planes for the first time fully piloted by women crew members in celebration of the country's Women's Day. 

 

The two flights, headed to Abu Dhabi and Kuwait, took off simultaneously at 9am from Cairo International Airport.

 

The first flight of a long range Airbus 330 landed in Abu Dhabi piloted by Captain Hasnaa Taymour, First Officer Sarah Abdel-Fattah and 10 flight attendants, in addition to two female security officers.

 

The second flight of a medium range Boeing 800-737 arrrived in Kuwait piloted by Captain Heba Darwish, First Officer Sarah Roshdy and five flight attendants, with two female security officers on board.

 

The month featured three women-related events in Egypt: International Women's Day on 8 March, Egypt's Women's Day 16 March, and Mother’s Day 21 March.

 

Earlier this month, Egypt's Nevine Darwish was the first Arab female pilot to fly the world's largest commercial plane of Dubai-based Emirates arilines, the Airbus-380, in celebration of International Women's Day. 

 

In February, EgyptAir assigned Magda Malek to be the first Egyptian female pilot to fly long-range Boeing 300-777 commercial planes.

 

Egyptian Lotfia El-Nadi in December 1933 became the first female pilot in Africa and the Arab region after flying a plane between Cairo and Alexandria.

 

She was also the second woman in the world to fly solo after American pilot Amelia Earhart in 1931.