The siblings grew up eight years apart in Imphal in Manipur, but today their worlds intersect almost every day. As cabin crew at Air India, Wahengbam Sureiya and Rohit Singh navigate the same rosters, long-haul flights and airport standbys, discovering that the person who understands the demands of an aviation career best is often the person who has known them their entire life.
For Sureiya, the journey began in 2014 when she became the first in the family to pursue a career in aviation. Drawn by the opportunity to travel, meet people from different walks of life and be part of a profession where no two days are the same, she quickly found her calling in the skies.
Back home, Rohit was paying attention.
He grew up listening to stories from her flights, hearing about destinations she visited and the experiences she brought back. What started as admiration gradually became inspiration.
"She was the first one in our family to dream about a career in aviation," Rohit recalls. "Seeing her become cabin crew and travel to different parts of the world really inspired me. I loved hearing about her experiences, and eventually I decided to follow in her footsteps."
Years later, he did exactly that, joining Air India and starting a journey remarkably similar to the one his sister had begun a decade earlier.
Today, both proudly wear the Air India uniform. Yet while sharing the same profession is special, the siblings say that working for the same airline has brought them even closer.
The demands of life as Air India cabin crew are unlike those of most professions. Long-haul flights, irregular schedules, changing rosters and time away from home are all part of the job. For many aviation professionals, these experiences can be difficult to explain to family and friends. For Sureiya and Rohit, however, that understanding comes naturally.
"Working for the same airline has definitely brought us closer," says Sureiya. "We understand each other's schedules, the long flights and the tired days. It has changed our relationship from being just siblings to being colleagues. We share experiences, support each other and sometimes even learn from one another."
Rohit agrees.
"We understand each other's work and the lifestyle that comes with it, so we have a lot more to talk about and relate to," he says. "It's nice having someone who understands what I'm going through without me having to explain everything."
That shared understanding often plays out in the everyday moments that have become some of their most treasured memories.
Airport standby, which can be routine for cabin crew, is something they both look forward to when it happens to coincide.
"One thing I really enjoy is when we happen to be on standby at the same airport," says Rohit. "We spend time together, catch up, tease each other and time just flies."
For Sureiya, those moments have become an unexpected gift of working for the same airline.
Even when they are not rostered together, they find themselves swapping stories from flights, discussing challenges, sharing advice and comparing experiences from different routes. Having someone who understands the realities of life in aviation without explanation has strengthened a bond that already ran deep.
Their favourite shared memory at Air India comes from one such standby duty.
Both siblings had been assigned airport standby and were later allocated the same cab home. Because they live together, the transport system generated the same address for both crew members, leaving the driver convinced there had been an error.
"He called the transport team to confirm the address," Sureiya recalls. "When we boarded the cab, he looked at us and joked, 'When did Air India start hiring family packages?'"
The story still makes them laugh.
While their shared experiences at work have brought them closer, both say it is the little things that continue to make them feel at home, no matter where their flights take them.
For Rohit, it is often a simple phone call from his sister.
"A simple call asking if I've eaten, how my day was, or just talking about random things," he says. "Even when I'm far away on a flight to say Bali, while she maybe operating a flight to Dubai, those small moments make me feel at home."
For Sureiya, it is the care her younger brother shows after she returns from a long trip.
"After a long flight, if he's off duty, he'll cook a simple warm meal for me," she says. "That instantly makes me feel at home."
The mutual admiration they have for one another is equally evident.
Sureiya speaks warmly of Rohit's positivity, calm nature and dependability, adding that despite being the elder sibling, there are qualities in him that she now genuinely looks up to.
Rohit, meanwhile, continues to admire the same confidence, professionalism and kindness that first inspired him to consider a career as cabin crew.
"As a person, I admire her for being kind, caring and always supportive," he says. "As cabin crew, I admire her confidence, professionalism and the way she carries herself."
Every day, Air India connects families and loved ones across cities, countries and continents. For Sureiya and Rohit, the airline has also given them the opportunity to share a professional journey while deepening a lifelong personal one.
Between long flights, changing rosters and airport standbys, they have discovered that the greatest comfort in aviation is not necessarily a destination.
Sometimes, it is a familiar face waiting at the gate.
Sometimes, it is a sibling who understands exactly how your day has been.
And sometimes, it is sharing the journey with someone who has been beside you from the very beginning.
