Thiruvananthapuram: A girl born in a small coastal village of Kerala flew an aircraft to her hometown on Saturday marking her name in the history. 23-year-old Jeny Jerome hailing from Kochuthura near Karumkulam in Poovar here could be the youngest Keralite woman commercial pilot.

Jeny was the co-pilot of the Air Arabia (G9-449) flight from Sharjah to Thiruvananthapuram on Saturday. On knowing the news, the people of Kochuthura are rejoicing as she proved that determination can take one to any height.

Daughter of Kochuthura native Jerome Joris and Biatres, Jeny and her brother Jeby were born in the coastal village in Kerala. However, Jerome went to Sharjah with family for job purposes and they settled there. Jeny and her brother grew up and was educated in Sharjah.

Though Jeny used to share her ambition to become a pilot from a very young age, her family did not take it seriously. After completing Plus Two, she started to pursue her career on her own. As she was firm on her decision, her family also stood by her.

Jeny joined Alpha Aviation Academy of Air Arabia. Two years ago, an aircraft in which Jeny was training happened to crash in Philippines. But she and her coach had a miraculous escape. Jeny did not give up and continued working hard and finally obtained pilot license.

Jeny got a very rare opportunity to fly from the city where she grew up to the place where she was born on her very first journey as a pilot. Her brother Jeby is a chartered accountant. With her achievement, Jeny has become the pride of her home town.